Interview Questions

1. We live in an age of increased connectivity with twitter and facebook both having an increased role in the news media. In your opinion, do you believe that this addition of public opinion into news programs helps to add credibility to the report? Or do you believe that the reporting should be left to those who are trained and have researched the subject matter? I ask this question because I think it is important to understand the areas that the news media could improve and where they are succeeding.
2. An integral part of our project is to understand the nature of the media. Some would argue that the media holds a conservative bias while others would find a liberal bias. In your opinion, does the media lean more towards the left or the right? I ask this because there are great debates about the position of the news media and I believe that an expert opinion could aid us in finding the answer.
3. Alongside news shows, channels such as MSNBC and FOX News often include opinionated talk shows with hosts such as Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly or Keith Olberman. These hosts are admittedly partisan and often act as either the research or communication arm for the major political parties. Do you believe that the growth of such opinion shows marks a step backwards for the news media as a whole? I ask this question because these opinion shows are very popular in today’s society and necessitate discussion.
4. It is important to note that any source of news media is a company with the driving force of profit, not the betterment of society. My question is, is it ever an issue to choose between increasing your profit or to report accurately on the news? So in essence, does the pursuit of accurate news stories ever impede upon the acquisition of profit? I ask this because I believe it should be known that the news companies are driven to make money.
5. A very powerful tool of news companies is the setting of the agenda, or to decide what stories are worth reporting on. It is also important to note that different media sources have different target audiences (FOX targets conservatives, CNN targets liberals etc.). Is there a specific target audience for CBS and do you ever see any evidence of agenda setting in order to draw a larger audience? I ask this question because it is important to understand who the media is targeting.
6. Another tactic of the news media to gain viewers is to sensationalize the news. Often, with the slogan “if it bleeds it leads”, the news focuses on stories with shock value that can capture the attention of viewers. Do you believe that sensationalism in the media presents an accurate view of society? I ask this question so that our audience can understand that sometimes, the news presented by the media does not represent society.