Ask a Mentor – Page 6 – Canadian Journalism Foundation

Archive

18 Jun

Access-to-information strategies

QUESTION: What if my access to information request got me nothing? What now? ANSWER: by Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press So, the envelope you’d been waiting for has finally arrived — […]

23 May

Dealing with evasive politicians

QUESTION: How do you get politicians to answer tough questions? Getting a politician to talk to you isn’t difficult but getting one to answer the questions you want answered often […]

12 Apr

Greasing the wheels

QUESTION: What interview techniques are best for getting sources to open up? In some of the best “interviews” I’ve done, I’ve asked only one question: “Hi, how’re you doing?” The […]

14 Nov

Off the record — or is it?

QUESTION: You conduct a lengthy interview with a critical source. He tells you many things very useful to a big story you’re working on. At the end of the interview, […]

14 Nov

Libel chill

QUESTION: A hostile interviewee lays down the gauntlet: “Publish that and I’ll sue you.” What’s the professional response? Ask the interviewee what he or she is concerned about. Perhaps there […]

20 Oct

Getting answers in a small town

QUESTION: When officials in a small town stop talking, how do you do your job?Threatening to cut off a reporter – or even a whole media outlet – from an […]