Working at an outlet that prioritizes fact-checking and also being an ed reporter sometimes means sending really long emails to 16yos because they've never interacted with a journalist before so I have to do a bit of journalism 101 to explain why we fact check.

I try to approach interviews with students knowing I'm probably shaping their idea of what journalism is and should be, which actually helps me do my job overall bc there are so many things journos assume the public knows that they just don't. But it's most obvious with teens.

This is a work in progress still, but I usually start interviews w/teens explaining my goal, how I'm envisioning the story, what I think they can add. And I ask if they have questions about the process & tell them they can always ask me if they do, during the interview or after.

And they get my cell number and an assurance they can text & don't have to call :)

(This doesn't apply to like, asking a kid at a Halloween event about their costume, but I try for anything more substantial than that.)

I am doing this thread partially to remind myself that this is important, bc sometimes The Youths call me at like 8pm with a journalism question and I'm like WHY DID I GIVE YOU MY CELL NUMBER. But it's worth it.