NY Times biz reporter Steel uses old-fashioned techniques

Emily Steel, who covers the media industry for The New York Times, talks about her reporting techniques.

Here is an excerpt:

You’ve done a lot of investigative reporting, including stories that uncovered sexual harassment allegations against Bill O’Reilly at Fox. What has been your most important tech tool or resource for your work?

This sounds completely old-fashioned, but the most important tech tool for all of my reporting really has been the telephone. I’ve spoken with dozens upon dozens of sources, many of whom are hesitant to talk about their experiences or may even be barred from sharing information with me. I’ve found that talking over the phone — and even better meeting in person — helps to build trust and establish a relationship.

For more 21st-century technology, I’ve relied heavily on the encrypted messaging app Signal. The app stores almost no information from users, including messages and contacts. It also allows users to make encrypted calls and set messages to disappear after they have been seen.

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