Hard News
Hard News refers to serious, timely news stories that cover important events, politics, economics, and current affairs. Unlike 'soft news' which includes lifestyle, entertainment, and feature stories, hard news focuses on factual reporting of significant events that impact society. Journalists who work with hard news need to be quick, accurate, and able to meet tight deadlines, as these stories are usually time-sensitive and require immediate reporting. This term is commonly used in newsrooms and journalism job descriptions to distinguish between different types of news coverage.
Examples in Resumes
Led team of reporters covering Hard News stories including local government and crime
Managed daily Hard News coverage across print and digital platforms
Won regional press award for Hard News reporting on city council corruption
Typical job title: "Hard News Reporters"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Hard News Reporters
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Industry Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you manage a breaking news situation with limited resources?
Expected Answer: Should discuss prioritizing stories, coordinating team coverage, fact-checking under pressure, and maintaining quality while meeting deadlines.
Q: How do you ensure balanced coverage in politically sensitive stories?
Expected Answer: Should explain approaches to sourcing from multiple perspectives, fact verification processes, and handling potential conflicts of interest.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you develop and maintain source relationships?
Expected Answer: Should discuss building trust with contacts, protecting sources, and maintaining professional boundaries while securing reliable information.
Q: What's your process for verifying information in a time-sensitive story?
Expected Answer: Should explain fact-checking methods, using multiple sources, and balancing speed with accuracy.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What makes a story 'hard news' versus 'soft news'?
Expected Answer: Should explain the difference between time-sensitive, fact-based news (like politics, crime, economics) and feature stories or human interest pieces.
Q: How do you structure a basic news story?
Expected Answer: Should describe the inverted pyramid style, including key elements like the lead paragraph, supporting details, and quotes.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic news writing and reporting
- Meeting deadlines
- Basic fact checking
- Understanding of journalism ethics
Mid (2-5 years)
- Developing source networks
- Breaking news coverage
- Story planning and development
- Multi-platform reporting
Senior (5+ years)
- Team leadership and mentoring
- Complex story management
- Editorial decision making
- Crisis coverage coordination
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic journalism ethics
- Unable to meet deadlines
- Poor writing skills
- No experience with fact-checking
- Lack of news judgment
- No knowledge of media law basics
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