Practice 30 The New York Times interview questions covering editorial judgment, digital storytelling, and journalistic integrity.
Question 6 of 30
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
General
How to Prep
What You Need to Know
Community Answers

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
Regardless of the role (marketing, advertising, etc.), questions about industry knowledge and company success gauge your commitment to both the industry and the company's goals. Your answers reveal your loyalty and understanding of the bigger picture. When you actively learn and engage with the business, pursuing your career advancement while benefiting the company, you prove your value as a stakeholder. Essentially, promoting the company's success strengthens your own professional worth.

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"Well, marketing and advertising is not my forte, but I would say that advertising is a part of the broader aspect of marketing. Marketing is customizing your messaging to your target audience, who are most likely to find value in what you have to offer. So you are anticipating their needs and wants, and speaking to them in a way they identify with and relate to. You are showing them that you hear them and value them, and create an atmosphere that is reciprocal. Whereas advertising is finding the right timing, channels, and sources to get that message in front of them."

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
The American Marketing Association has succinctly said that advertising is a component of marketing. "Marketing is the process of identifying customer needs and determining how best to meet those needs," and "advertising is the exercise of promoting a company and its products or services through paid channels." So study the terminology The New York Times uses on their site and try to incorporate some of their language for answering this question. Even if they end up using another industry question instead of this one, consider it good practice and a guide on how to navigate such as these.

Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
"Great journalism has the power to make each reader's life richer and more fulfilling, and to make all of society stronger and more just. Marketing plays a key part in extending the journalistic legacy and mission of The Times into the future. We communicate the ways readers can experience our journalism, help them discover our reporting and products, and demonstrate the impact of our rigorous journalism, as we work to help people understand what makes The Times different and worth paying for. Curious readers and lifelong learners need information they can rely on to help them understand and engage with the world. In this environment, a direct, paid relationship with an independent provider of quality journalism will prove its value again and again. Our work has built trusted relationships with over four million subscribers, and we envision a future where every reader pays for quality journalism.
We create purposeful marketing that demonstrates our mission, how we're leading the journalism industry and all the ways our readers can subscribe. Recent campaigns have highlighted how The Times amplified important voices, helped readers understand what goes into our reporting, and underscored our unwavering commitment to the truth. Our brand campaigns are just one way we inspire and engage our audience. We also market the breadth of our reporting, products and lifestyle through commerce, events and sales. Above all, we strive to be timely, straightforward and relevant in our marketing, to prove how much we value our readers and subscribers."
Write Your Answer
0 - Character Count
Prepare for questions that test news judgment and commitment to quality journalism.
Get StartedJump to Question

Written by Kevin Downey
30 Questions & Answers • The New York Times

By Kevin

By Kevin