Interview duds

We had a guy come in yesterday to interview for an entry-level news reporter position. Editor asks him what he'd do if a house in the next town was on fire. He said he'd try to find buckets so he could bring water "since the most important thing to do is put out the fire." Once the fire was extinguished and he was sure everyone was safely out, he'd look for people to talk to, he said.

Editor said it was the first interview he ever did that he just wanted to cut the guy off and say, "Thanks, but no thanks." But he didn't, so the ME got this gem.

ME says, "Imagine you're covering a meeting that's not going to make the next day's paper. What do you do to make it fresh?"

Guy says, "I'd write it in the past tense."

What does that even mean??

 

At least he didn't say he'd refrigerate the story to keep it fresh.

 

I would have written it in the future tense.

Wait, what was the question?

 

Ok, may I ask a stupid question?
As someone who is not in the paper side, just TV production, what WOULD you do to make a meeting story fresh?
Get quotes from those involved in issues discussed at the meeting?

 

i thought this was another thread about what to wear to an interview.

 

Sounds like a "citizen journalist."

Past tense. What a moran.

 

Have I shared this? I interviewed a guy in a paisley dress shirt.

 

Maybe it was laundry day.

 

I interviewed a guy in a Pirate shirt. Jerry something or other.

 

I've seen some interviewees come in dressed a little too casually for my tastes. The worst offender in my book was a freelance photog who was interviewing for a full-time reporter position. It was a courtesy interview because his clips were pretty weak.

He came in with a shirt and tie all right, but he was wearing JEANS. Fucking jeans. After I specifically told him to dress for an interview.

Needless to say, he didn't get the job...