FOXNews.com’s politics reporter Liza Porteus may have a background in broadcast journalism but don’t let that fool you. This online reporter is thorough. By asking her questions from a fresh angle she gets the scoop and breaks the news.

This young, driven reporter has seen many aspects of the business. Porteus offered insight into the benefits and challenges of writing for the web in the shadow of a major broadcast news channel, as well as what direction the news industry is going.

Q: How long have you been working at FOXNews.com? What was your work experience before coming to FOX?

A: Three years-- prior to working at FOXnews.com, I was a reporter covering high-tech policy for National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, D.C. I covered issues such as cyber-security, broadband, e-commerce, electronic government, intellectual property issues and the Microsoft antitrust trial. I also was in charge of covering the larger technology issues in all 50 states. While I was in college, I spent a semester in Annapolis, Md., working basically as a wire service reporter covering the state capital and issues such as the multi-state tobacco lawsuit, how rising tobacco prices and the lawsuit affected Maryland farmers, and ethics issues in the Maryland state government. I also spent a summer as an intern at The Annapolis Capital daily newspaper covering more human-interest type issues such as "Teen of the Week." During my senior year in college, I also interned at The Hill newspaper in Washington, a weekly publication (now biweekly), where I wrote stories on congressional cyber-security efforts, President Clinton's proposed tobacco policy and campaign strategies for the 2000 presidential race. I also worked at my college newspaper, The Diamondback where I served as features/investigations editor, fall 1999; managing editor, summer 1999; news editor, fall 1998; copy editor, spring 1998; staff writer, April 1997-2000.

Q: What is the most challenging thing you have had to do as a reporter?

A: By far, the most challenging thing I have had to do as a reporter was talk to families who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. I've gone up to congressmen and senators in Washington and interviewed them about a myriad of issues and although I was nervous, that feeling was nothing compared to how I felt having to sit down with a family who lost their son in the World Trade Center as he was trying to help evacuate people from the burning building. I don't think anything can prepare you for dealing with that kind of human emotion that you encounter when interviewing "real" people for stories such as the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Q: What is your favorite story that you have written?

A: I don't know if a have a "favorite" story but when I covered high-tech policy and was covering the Microsoft antitrust trial, I was able to report on quite a few angles that other publications had not yet covered, which is always a thrill to most journalists - to get the scoop. Another "favorite" was covering the tobacco issues as an intern in Maryland. I was writing stories in direct competition with papers such as The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun, reporting on the huge, multi-state lawsuits against Big Tobacco and reporting on some angles in a way that put a human face on the issue. For example, I went to tobacco auctions and interviewed real tobacco farmers whose life's work was farming tobacco, which made for a pretty good living. Talking directly to them about how many had to sell farms that had been in their families for generations, as higher cigarette taxes forced smaller buys at tobacco auctions, was really heartbreaking.

Q: Did you have a background in print journalism?

A: I actually have more educational background as a broadcast journalist. I specialized in broadcast journalism (television) at The University of Maryland, College Park, but did all of my internships in print. I wanted to expand the scope of my internships and educational background so I didn't pigeonhole myself into one specific area.

Q: Do you think online reporting is different from traditional print reporting?

A: Online reporting is much more fast-paced than print reporting. You always get thrown off deadline by whatever the news of the day is, which sometimes can be a little frustrating. But it's great practice for dropping everything to pick up a story and write it as news breaks. It's also good practice in trying to think of alternate stories for that day, based on the big news of the day. Thinking of different sidebars and other angles of stories that can be expanded is a great way to think outside the box and to think of stories that perhaps your competitors haven't yet covered. However, I think there's much more opportunity to do more investigative, in-depth reporting as a print reporter. If you have a larger staff at an online operation, this would be more possible. I've found that you also get out of the office more as a print reporter and you're physically forced to go out and talk to people to get the story. This is great experience and talking to people over the phone while sitting in the office really can't replace that. Getting to meet potential sources face-to-face is great for future newsgathering and getting leads on stories.

Q: Where did you go to school? How well do you think your education prepared you for what you are doing now?

A: The University of Maryland in College Park. I think college is great in giving you a foundation in journalism - the basics in how to write a story. But without internships in journalism, a classroom won't prepare you enough for the "real world." You need to be in a newsroom setting and get used to real deadlines, the edit process, working sources, etc… to really get a leg up in the field. Anyone who thinks they can get a good job in journalism by just sitting through classes in college and actively seeking out internships (meaning more than one!) is, I believe, sadly mistaken. You need to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack while looking for a job and the more experience you have before graduating, the better of you will be!

Q: How is working for a news channel’s print medium helpful? How is it difficult?

A: Working for a news channel's print medium often feels like a thankless job. Online journalism is still sort of struggling to make itself on par with the rest of the journalism world and you always feel like you still have to prove yourself not just to the channel, but to people you interview, etc… It is helpful, however, in that you have the name of "Fox News Channel" behind you when you call people and identify yourself. They may not be that familiar yet with Foxnews.com but they more than likely have heard of and are familiar with FOX News. 

Q: Would you rather see the channel and the website share more information on resources or become more independent?

A: I would definitely rather see the Web site share more information and resources. Per the answer above, the web site is always struggling to be seen on the same plane as the channel and to get our name out and make sure people know what we do and that we have our own reporters. While we still struggle to make sure people realize we don't just simply put channel content on the web site, we do want them to see the web site as an extension of the channel and that we have our own original content on there as well. The problem is, television people often don't think about, "how can we expand our coverage in a way that might not get on television." The answer to that is, "on the web." TV correspondents rarely get more than perhaps 1.5 minutes to tell their stories. The web is a perfect chance for them to expand their stories and get into more detail, while still offering readers more original content. A few channel correspondents "get" this but unfortunately, not everyone does yet!

Q: Where do you see the news media in 10 years in terms of convergence?

A: I see more news stations looking to the web to get out more expanded versions of stories. I also think that for big news items like Hurricane Katrina, they will realize the web can offer more in terms of packages, photo essays, links to helping organizations, background info, etc… than you can put on air. It really is a more interactive medium that more and more people are learning to appreciate.

Q: What are the best and worst characteristics for a reporter to have?

A: Best: tenacious, inquisitive, skeptical.
Worst: someone who takes everything at face value, can't see the larger picture, is not deadline-oriented

Q: When did you know you wanted to go into journalism?

A: In high school - I always knew I wanted to be a writer of some sort and as I began taking on more responsibility at my school newspaper, I realized I wanted to be a reporter. That's why I chose the J-school at UMD, because it had a great reputation and was near Washington.

Q: What are your long-term aspirations and career goals?

A: Hmmm - that's the $50,000 questions. I always thought I wanted to be a regular White House reporter, sitting in the White House briefing room every day. I don't know if I've entirely given up that ambition but if I move out of New York, there's no place I'd work as a journalist other than Washington. Covering politics and policy is where my heart is so hopefully one day, I'll move back to Washington to cover Congress.

Q: What do you think is the definition of a reporter?