Journalist Interview

A Glimpse into the Profession of Robert Kennedy

            For the Professional Journalist Interview, I interviewed radio journalist, Robert Kennedy from WTAQ news in Green Bay, WI. I wrote the interview in a Q&A format. I chose to interview Kennedy because of his experience in radio journalism. Kennedy has had a career in journalism for 32 years, and has worked for WTAQ for over 8 years. He has covered stories from Hurricane Katrina to local news stories such as snow storms.  

 Q: What is journalism to you?

Robert Kennedy: Journalism is telling people what is happening around them. Journalists are the eyes and ears of the community.   

Q: What is “a day in the life” of Robert Kennedy like?

Kennedy: I go into work at two a.m. Our first newscast is at five a.m. I assemble audio pieces, write scripts, and stack the newscasts. My team and I work right up to the 8 a.m. hour.  I look at what the rest of the day will be like once the morning show is over. I assign the other reporters stories to follow up on in the afternoon. I will leave by 1 p.m.

Q: How has the industry changed with social media emerging?

 Kennedy: I have spoken to many people that have shied away from radio because it wasn’t as glamorous as television. However, that’s not the case anymore with social media. Now, radio does more stories that involves creating videos. The process is similar to television.

Q: You stated earlier that you have been in the business for about 32 years, so how do you think journalism compares to 32 years ago vs. nowadays?

 Kennedy: I think the bottom line is still the same: serving your audience and to making sure you are getting information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. The delivery system has changed. Now, radio journalists have to put the story on the appropriate platforms for their audience. The audience will go somewhere else for the story if they cannot find it on your platform.

Q: What kind of challenges do you think radio journalism has?

Kennedy: I think people need to be better writers. The news is posted on social media, and it has to be grammatically correct and fluent. Also, conversations cannot sound clinical. That will put your audience to sleep. The dialogue has to sound like a conversation with a friend. This is a skill that many people do not have.   

Q: What kind of opportunities wait for future journalists, and what types of jobs will be available with those types of opportunities?

Kennedy: Recruiters will look for employees that are talented in graphic design. Companies want their blogs and social media sites to stand out from the competition.

Q: Looking into the future, what do you think journalism will be like?

Kennedy: A journalist’s goal will still be to tell a story in a meaningful way. However, the way people get their information will change. Strong writing and proficiency is helpful to a journalist. A good journalist can build relationships with their sources and the community.