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n my experience as a newspaper writer and editor on small paper level, there aren't many reporters who ask tough questions. On occasion, one turns up, but most the reporters lack that hard-assed quality and get by just reporting the news without confrontation. Sure, it would be great if we had a lot of tough questioners, but they don't pop up very much, especially with beginners who come to small papers.
Your best bet is to get through the that beat reporter time and try to work towards doing more features - and not investigative ones. You can do interesting, important, issue driven features without "askiing the tough questions." Or you might do what I did - move towards the arts. You don't have to ask artists, filmmakers, musicians, writers, etc., tough questions, you have to ask them good ones. And they appreciate it when you do. From what has been related to me, there are actually far more people in newspapers asking tough questions than asking good ones and I think that's a very important distinction.
