I applied online. I interviewed at USA TODAY Co. (Rockford, IL) in Nov 2015
Interview
A manager called me and talked about himself for 30 minutes. Then he set up a Skype interview with himself and another photographer. They couldn't get the Skype call to work. After that interview, they asked if I would be willing to drive from where I lived in the upper Midwest to their location in the Deep South for an in-person interview. They were surprised when I declined because of the 15-hour drive. (They told me they do not fly candidates in for news jobs).
I found the position online and applied. I first had a phone interview with a HR rep which was relatively quick and surface level. Then I did a phone interview with my direct boss.
I applied in-person. I interviewed at USA TODAY Co. (Fond du Lac, WI) in Aug 2008
Interview
You just have to know the right people. Hiring is done through photographers knowing other photographers. When positions open up, guys already in Gannett move from paper to paper trying to move up the ladder, though positions are few and far between.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Your presented with a news gathering scenario and you have to say how you would solve the onsite problems that pop up.