Would you consider yourself a curious person?

"I consider myself a curious person, and always have since I was a young child. I have always been getting myself into trouble searching for answers, and I believe that while back then it got me into trouble, now it is a skill that I can make work for the greater good of the entire newsroom."

A good assignment desk editor is someone who is constantly looking for stories and being curious about what is going on around them. They are always looking for more answers to questions and pushing people to get them answered. The hiring manager wants to know if the candidate is someone with the drive and curiosity to find out information for the benefit of the entire newsroom.

What do you know about this area you want to work in?

"I want to work in New York City because I have lived here in college and know a lot about the area. I feel like one of the locals and know that the stories I choose will be ones they will care about. I also feel that when we get calls into the station, they will hear a native voice, and it will make them feel more comfortable to tell their story."

The candidate should talk about their experience with news in this local community, town, city, or state, and what knowledge of it they can add to the station. They should talk about some of the important issues facing the community, and why they are passionate about helping to tell these stories. They may also talk about the tangible things they enjoy about the area, such as the weather, the topography, the location, and the people.

Would you feel confident making decisions on stories when other producers and directors are unavailable?

"If I had to make calls on which stories to go to, I would feel confident in my decisions because I find that I have a good grasp on the stories that are important here and I would take into consideration what the reporters think is important, as well."

An assignment desk editor should be ready to make big calls on news stories that should be covered if producers are busy. They are responsible for telling reporters which stories to go to for the day, and should have a good grasp on the most important stories for that community. The candidate may use this answer to talk about what they know about the local stories and what stories would take priority over others if they were making the decisions. They also should mention how and why they will make good choices for the station based on their knowledge of the news industry.

What is your experience working in the news industry?

"I studied journalism in school, so I wrote and produced many news stories for 4 years. I love the excitement and speed of the news industry, and I am excited to join your team and help push stories forward."

It is imperative than an assignment desk editor has a passion for news. They must show their desire to work in the news industry and tell why they love it so much. Candidates should mention what experience they have with news, whether it is watching it producing it, or studying it, how that experience makes them a valuable addition to the team.

If you could start your career over, what would you do and why?

"If I could start careers over again, I would become a movie director. I am good at leading a group, looking ahead, and helping others. I am also personable and can help people with their problems, but can ultimately keep my eyes on the goal. This helps me be a good assignment desk editor because I am able to speak up when I feel that a story needs to be covered."

The candidate should discuss another career they would be interested in based on their skill set and interests they have. They can reference the skills it takes to perform these careers and how they ultimately help the candidate be a perfect fit as an assignment desk editor.

Are you able to sit for up to 9 hours a day?

"I believe I will be able to sit for 9 hours a day because once I am so focused on my work it will not bother me sitting that much."

An assignment desk editor is expected to sit for basically the entire daily shift and man the phone lines and social media accounts. They rarely can leave for long periods of time because they are the main source for listening to scanners and finding breaking news. The candidate should discuss their ability to sit for this long and concentrate.

What are your salary expectations?

"I believe that my work is worth between $28,000-$30,000 because I have worked as a part time assignment desk editor before and I already have experience that makes me valuable."

Assignment desk editor salaries vary based on whether it is a broadcast news station, a print or online publication, or depending on where it is located based on market size. However, a starting salary for an assignment desk editor is between $20,000-$30,000. The candidate should present a range of salaries they hope to make based on their prior experience.

Do you consider yourself a proactive person, or someone who is more patient?

"I consider myself a proactive person. I am always looking for the next story and keeping up to date with the following days stories, not just what is going on today. I believe this is a good quality for your station because I will be able to keep everyone up to date on our next stories so we do not fall behind or miss anything."

While a candidate may think that always being proactive is the best response, they should always think about the honest answer for his or herself and why that is their type of personality. There are positives to being a patient person as an assignment desk editor, as well. For instance, someone who does not jump when breaking news is heard over the scanners may end up being a good thing, because they may send reporters on a chase for something that is brief and quick and not newsworthy. There are also positives to being proactive, like staying on top of local events and sending out notifications to those events that the station will be attending early in order to hold their spot. The candidate should discuss why they have chosen that quality and why it works well in this job position.

What is your experience generating contacts?

"I find myself a very trustworthy person, and many people trust me with their information. I find that many people call me with story ideas because they know I will always respect their wishes in regards to when it is released or what information we share. In that way, I believe I am good at not only finding contacts, but keeping them."

Assignment desk editors are considered strong ones when they find ways to stay in touch with important contacts daily or weekly. They are expected to form strong relationships within the community so they aren notified whenever there is a story to cover. The candidate should discuss their experience forming these relationships and keeping them over time, and what success they have had in the past that they can share with this station.

Are you interested in becoming a journalist one day?

"I see myself becoming a reporter in the future because I hope my creativity will continue to develop as I am an assignment desk editor. I am already very curious and good at finding stories people care about, and one day I hope I gain enough knowledge about this local community that I can report on it myself."

The candidate should discuss why or why not they plan on working as a full time journalist in the future. Oftentimes, being an assignment desk editor is a good transition job into being a reporter, in which case they plan on perhaps staying at the company for a longer time and growing over time. The candidate should discuss what their future plans are, as it relates to the news industry, and how they will grow into that future role based on what they learn in this job.

How are your phone skills?

"I consider myself a personable person, and I am able to ask strangers the right questions and talk to them kindly even though I do not know them. I am able to ask hard questions over the phone to get good information, and can get off the phone respectfully yet quickly so I can continue working."

Assignment desk editors are responsible for answering all of the newsroom phone lines, which could be news of a breaking incident, locals wanting to share a story or something that has happened, or local officials calling to alert the desk of something. The candidate must be personable, calm, and able to gather all of the important information they are conveying so they can share with the newsroom with ample detail.

What is your experience using social media and the Internet?

"Growing up in the age of technology, I have been using the internet and social media my entire life. I have learned tricks to find specific information I am looking for, and I believe I will be a valuable asset to the team because I am able to find out information that others cannot."

An assignment desk editor is expected to be well versed in using social media and the internet to find story ideas. They must be good at picking up on stories that may not show up as very prominent online, but can find a local angle of importance in the area. They need to be able to uncover stories and dig deep into the internet to find them. The hiring manager is looking for someone who is constantly monitoring the internet for story ideas and updates and letting everyone in the newsroom know as they come.

How do you prioritize stories for the newsroom to cover?

"I am confident that I am a good decision maker when it comes to prioritizing stories, because I have had much success in the past. I believe that breaking news should take priority over everything else, but national politics also draw the interest of the local news in this area. However, whatever your station believes is top priority I will adjust to."

The candidate should discuss various types of stories in a newsroom and which ones they put more effort into to cover. For instance, they may discuss how breaking news takes priority over any other story of the day, and how stories that do not have a specific time importance may be put off for future days if there is more important news to mention. The candidate should ultimately prove that they understand what news to put more of a focus on, and the interviewer will decide how those decisions fit into their company.

How do you work under stress?

"I find that I do some of my best work in stressful situations because I focus on just one thing and do not let other things distract me. This way, I am able to concentrate and produce the best work possible as quickly as I can."

The candidate should discuss their experience working under time constraints, under pressure, and in a fast paced environment. They may discuss their ability to work through stressful situations and persevere, even though during the event it may take its toll.

What is your experience digging for stories?

"I consider myself a great story digger online and in person. I always find myself eavesdropping on conversations in public and asking people many questions in town, which helps people trust me, and also helps me find out what the locals are most interested in. While other news stations may only follow the stories and events that are widely advertised, I dive deeper and find the lesser known ones."

The candidate should describe his or her experience investigating stories and the types of ways they work to find out information. The candidate may talk about how they find out information about locals, various contacts they use, and trust they have built up in the community to help them uncover more that people not from the area would not have known. The candidate should show that they are good investigators.

Why do you want to become an assignment desk editor?

"I want to become an assignment desk editor at your station because I love finding new stories to cover. While I have never considered myself a good writer, I am good at finding stories and getting tips."

The candidate should discuss what makes them interested in taking a job as an assignment desk editor. They should show the hiring manager how much they are passionate about the job and if given the opportunity would excel in it.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

"In five years from now, I see myself being a morning-side assignment desk editor. While in my first few years I hope to gain experience finding stories and relaying breaking news at every time of day, I hope to eventually know enough to run the desk completely myself in the early morning hours and find the important stories of the day that everyone needs to know when they wake up."

The candidate should talk about what they hope to learn in this job and where those skills may take them in the future. Although the hiring manager may be looking for a candidate who plans to stick around, rather than leaving after a year or two, the candidate should be positive about gaining many skills necessary to be an essential part of any team.

Why is this job right for you at this time?

"I want to get my start in news, and I do not think that being a journalist is a good right start for me. I would rather do something where I work closely with them but ease into the business a little slower. In the meantime, I am passionate about storytelling and breaking news, so I believe finding stories is the perfect job for me, and will help me learn more about reporting."

The candidate should discuss previous career moves they have made and what they have learned up to this point to make them a good fit for the job. They can also talk about why this job is right for them at this time, and where it may help them go in the future.

What is a mistake you have made on the job and how did you resolve it?

"One time while working on the desk, I was aware we had a court case to attend for the day, but I did not read it closely enough and did not send a crew there. We were the only station not to cover it, and our viewers were disappointed we had missed a big story of the day. Going forward, I will pay closer attention to stories we should cover, and mark each important story with an asterisk so I am extra cautious."

The candidate should talk about a time where they have made a mistake on the job or not succeeded in the way they had hoped, and how they made it better. This is a chance for the candidate to reveal something about his or herself that may show a flaw in the career, but they ultimately should talk about how they have learned from their mistakes and are now moving forward and working to resolve it over time.

Have you progressed in your career plans like how you imagined?

"Although it has taken me a few extra years to find my passion of an assignment desk reporter, I am glad that I found it now. I have taken many other routes in my life, but none of them allowed me the ability to work in news and gave me the creative space to find stories like in this career. I am glad I found it while I did."

Oftentimes, it takes people longer to get to where they want to go in life than others. The candidate should be honest with the interviewer and discuss how their career is going, and how things may have changed over time. If the candidate is completely changing careers and trying something new, the interviewer wants to know what has influenced the change and why they believe this job is ultimately going to help them achieve success in the future. The interviewer is also looking for someone who is confident of their future, instead of worried about the past.

What are your favorite types of stories to cover?

The candidate should discuss what types of stories they believe are best to put forward for the day. They may talk about various types of stories, like breaking news, soft stories, political news, and more, and what kinds of news they like best to have reporters cover and why. Although assignment desk editors typically do not cover stories themselves, they are responsible for choosing stories to cover for the day, and should show a good grasp on what stories are preferable to share, and which could be rescheduled for future days.Sample: :My favorite types of stories are breaking news, because it is my responsibility to hear the information first, share it with the newsroom, update the anchors, create orders for new graphics, and call the reporters to redirect them. This is a chance for my skills of contacting officials and getting us first on the scene come into play."

What is your planning and scheduling experience like?

"I have always considered myself a very organized person, and have always been good at keeping my busy schedule on track. I feel that I can share my organizational skills with others and keep track of all the stories we have in our planner so that we do not forget some of the most important ones of the day, week, and year."

The candidate should discuss any experience they have with scheduling and planning based on stories they have found. They are responsible for knowing all of the anchors and reporters at the station and create master lists of future story ideas and who will cover them based on everyone's strengths. The candidate should prove that they are organized, have a good memory of events that are coming up, and have a good grasp on future events that are worth preparing for, previewing, and covering with multiple teams if they are incredibly important.

Why do you prefer staying inside the newsroom rather than reporting yourself?

"I enjoy being an assignment desk editor over a reporter because I feel more comfortable finding stories. While my writing may not be as creative as reporters, I have more time and skill to dig for stories and make phone calls to find the most interesting stories of the day."

The candidate should discuss why they have chosen this job over others offered in the newsroom. They may discuss what specific skills they will gain in this job opposed to other ones and how this job will make them stronger in the long run. They should also answer by talking about what strengths they already possess and how they will succeed at this job over other jobs that are available.

How is your eyesight?

"Even though I wear glasses, I have experience staring at a screen for long periods of the day. I often like to get up every few minutes and avert my eyes so they can re focus, but I am usually so focused that I want to continue working without issue."

Assignment desk editors are expected to sit at a computer all day and dig for stories on the internet, or reading papers. The candidate must feel comfortable doing this all day, and should talk about their ways to relieve their eyes throughout the day and how they manage to continue to focus and do their best work throughout.

Do you work well with a team?

"I love working with a team in a newsroom because we are all working to find the best news to cover and do it the best we can. My role is to relay the news to the producers, and together we can make a great product. I love help that others give to me and I love helping others."

The candidate should discuss their experience working as a part of a group and what role they tend to play in it. They should talk about their experience balancing power with others, taking instruction, and giving direction when necessary.

Do you consider yourself a leader?

"I consider myself a leader because I am someone who is confident in my own decisions. I believe that I know enough about the job that I make good decisions and my opinion is valued. I also like to help others, and work towards our common goal, so we all succeed."

The candidate should discuss their experience being a leader and what kind of leader they tend to be. Assignment desk editors make tough calls on what stories the newsroom should cover and often have to step up and tell the newsroom what is important to cover and what should not be. They cannot be afraid of confrontation, and once breaking news comes over, they must be proactive and make sure everyone is aware. The candidate should talk about their experience in doing this or how they would react when given the chance to step up.

What makes you a good candidate for this position?

"I am the best candidate for this position because I grew up in this town my entire life and already have formed contacts and relationships with local law enforcement. I have family who also works around the area and they are constantly giving me story ideas. I have the knowledge of the local area that not many others will have."

The candidate should discuss what makes them special on the job. They may talk about certain qualities that make them a good assignment desk editor, such as a good listener, a curious person, or someone who is able to lead and direct groups of people. They also may talk about what sets them apart from others, such as their personal experience living around the area. They should make themselves stand out in this answer.

What scares you about the job?

"What scares me most about the job is that if I miss a good story tip or a breaking news that comes over the scanners, I have lost the station a position among the first team to get to the scene. However, over time I am confident I will get even better at catching everything that comes by my desk."

The hiring manager is not always looking for someone who is already perfect at the job at hand, but wants someone who is passionate and will continue to improve while on the job. The candidate may reveal some of their flaws through this question, but ultimately should remain positive about finding a way to solve their insecurities.

What is your favorite part of being an assignment desk editor?

"My favorite part of being an assignment desk editor other than working in the newsroom is that my job changes every day. There are constantly new stories flooding in and I mediate them all."

The candidate should discuss why they love being an assignment desk editor and what features of the job they enjoy doing the most. Through answering this question, the candidate should reveal not only individual features of the job that they enjoy, but also what intangible things they gain by doing it.

How does this job fit into your career plans?

"I hope that this job will prepare me for any type of news job in the future, especially continuing on to be an assignment desk editor. At this job I will be able to refine my skills and learn more about what it takes to delve deep into communities and find stories, and down the line will become even more of an asset."

The candidate should answer by discussing what kinds of skills they feel that they will gain at this job and how that may help them in the future. Although the future is always uncertain, the candidate may talk about how their skills will benefit the company in the long term as they develop strong contacts and story ideas. No matter what the candidate has planned for the future, they should discuss what they hope to gain to make them a better worker down the line.

Assignment Desk Editor Interview Questions

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1. Would you consider yourself a curious person?
2. What do you know about this area you want to work in?
3. Would you feel confident making decisions on stories when other producers and directors are unavailable?
4. What is your experience working in the news industry?
5. If you could start your career over, what would you do and why?
6. Are you able to sit for up to 9 hours a day?
7. What are your salary expectations?
8. Do you consider yourself a proactive person, or someone who is more patient?
9. What is your experience generating contacts?
10. Are you interested in becoming a journalist one day?
11. How are your phone skills?
12. What is your experience using social media and the Internet?
13. How do you prioritize stories for the newsroom to cover?
14. How do you work under stress?
15. What is your experience digging for stories?
16. Why do you want to become an assignment desk editor?
17. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
18. Why is this job right for you at this time?
19. What is a mistake you have made on the job and how did you resolve it?
20. Have you progressed in your career plans like how you imagined?
21. What are your favorite types of stories to cover?
22. What is your planning and scheduling experience like?
23. Why do you prefer staying inside the newsroom rather than reporting yourself?
24. How is your eyesight?
25. Do you work well with a team?
26. Do you consider yourself a leader?
27. What makes you a good candidate for this position?
28. What scares you about the job?
29. What is your favorite part of being an assignment desk editor?
30. How does this job fit into your career plans?

Assignment Desk Editor Interview Questions

1. Would you consider yourself a curious person?

2. What do you know about this area you want to work in?

3. Would you feel confident making decisions on stories when other producers and directors are unavailable?

4. What is your experience working in the news industry?

5. If you could start your career over, what would you do and why?

6. Are you able to sit for up to 9 hours a day?

7. What are your salary expectations?

8. Do you consider yourself a proactive person, or someone who is more patient?

9. What is your experience generating contacts?

10. Are you interested in becoming a journalist one day?

11. How are your phone skills?

12. What is your experience using social media and the Internet?

13. How do you prioritize stories for the newsroom to cover?

14. How do you work under stress?

15. What is your experience digging for stories?

16. Why do you want to become an assignment desk editor?

17. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

18. Why is this job right for you at this time?

19. What is a mistake you have made on the job and how did you resolve it?

20. Have you progressed in your career plans like how you imagined?

21. What are your favorite types of stories to cover?

22. What is your planning and scheduling experience like?

23. Why do you prefer staying inside the newsroom rather than reporting yourself?

24. How is your eyesight?

25. Do you work well with a team?

26. Do you consider yourself a leader?

27. What makes you a good candidate for this position?

28. What scares you about the job?

29. What is your favorite part of being an assignment desk editor?

30. How does this job fit into your career plans?