Alumni Perspectives

Network‑Level Media Production: Human & Technological Perspectives

​Interview Questionnaire for Industry Professionals
Pre‑Interview Research Section (To be completed by the student)

Purpose:
Students must prepare before conducting the interview by researching publicly available information about their interviewee and organization. They should not ask for information that can easily be found online.

​Instructions:
Use reliable sources such as LinkedIn, company or network websites, press releases, and trade publications to complete this section.
Information to ResearchNotes / Sources
Interviewee Name
Current Job Title / Role
Company or Network
Department or Production Area
Years in Industry (approximate)
Education / Training Background
Notable Productions or Projects
Typical Scope or Scale of Production Work
Known Technologies, Techniques, or Formats Used
Sources Consulted (e.g., Variety, LinkedIn, IMDb, Network site)
Interview Section
Interview focus: Begin with your interviewee’s professional journey and human experiences in the field before asking about AI.

Part 1 — Career and Creative Work
  1. Could you start by telling me about your current role and what your typical workday looks like?
  2. How did you get started in this industry, and what key moments or projects have shaped your career?
  3. What aspects of production or storytelling do you personally find most rewarding?
  4. What types of challenges do you and your team face when producing content at a network scale?
  5. How has your team culture or creative process evolved over time — for example, how people collaborate, plan, or problem-solve?
  6. What professional or personal qualities do you think are most important for success in high-level television or sports production today?
  7. What advice would you give to someone hoping to follow a similar career path?

Part 2 — Technology and Workflow (Human Foundations)
  1. Over the years, how has technology more broadly (not just AI) changed how you create, edit, or distribute content?
  2. Are there any new tools or systems that have recently changed your workflow in meaningful ways?
(This section keeps the conversation focused on human experience and evolving production practices before pivoting to AI.)

Part 3 — The AI Segment: Emerging Practices and Perspectives
  1. When did your organization first begin exploring or adopting AI tools in production?
  2. What kinds of tasks or processes are now supported by AI in your environment (writing, editing, analytics, graphics, etc.)?
  3. How has AI changed the creative or decision-making process for producers?
  4. Have you noticed any shifts in team composition or hiring due to automation or intelligent systems?
  5. What ethical or practical concerns come up when using AI-generated content?
  6. Looking ahead five to ten years, what impact do you think AI will have on production workflows, creativity, and job opportunities?
(Optional wrap-up question)
  • What do you think students entering the industry should understand about how technology — and especially AI — will shape future opportunities?