Journalists spend much of their time travelling or in the field, where they pursue stories and leads and conduct interviews. They may spend some time in a newsroom or other office setting to attend briefings, pitch and receive assignments, or prepare pieces for publication. With computer technology, writing can occur almost anywhere. Some journalists spend long periods of time away from home and the office. For example, war correspondents typically cover their field in foreign countries, and political journalists often follow candidates on the campaign trail.
In journalism, interviews are essential not only for collecting information from sources but also for validating sources and providing diverse opinions about a topic. The ability to ask effective questions and elicit responses from subjects provides a journalist with the material needed to produce a newsworthy story. Research serves the same function as interviews and is a regular part of most assignments. Knowing what resources are trustworthy and how to search through materials for key information can help a journalist produce work that is thorough and accurate.
