Chapter 824 - 843: Must Catch the Eye

As "excellent" journalists, the small team began discussing their interview topics before even landing. The copywriter and the director kept a close eye on the news across the Star Network.

Federation News was a department directly under the Federation. While it appeared to be the government’s mouthpiece, the organization was simply too massive. From top to bottom—spanning the actual news department and the spokesperson department, all the way down to the subordinate internet departments—its staff was innumerable.

Not everyone in every department held "authority," nor did every program or column have a guaranteed audience. Aside from the specific legal department and a few official spokesperson columns, many of the new projects at Federation News had to be independently managed by small teams of journalists.

They had to analyze the provided materials themselves to figure out what netizens cared about, extract those points, conduct interviews, and compile the final content. The core message couldn’t be too low-brow, but it couldn’t be entirely mediocre either, or else no one would watch it.

"The current focus is very clear. It’s the competition process," the director consolidated the information. "There are also some participating students who have been making self-deprecating jokes in their circles. Those are good interview angles as well."

"I saw some news earlier. Didn’t they say there was a genius?"

"Jiang Qiuqiu?" The copywriter recognized the name. "She’s a regular on the trending searches. A portion of the people in our company really like her too. I think she was featured in one of our department’s special segments very early on."

"Very early on?"

"Back when she was practically a nobody." It was a coincidence, really; the copywriter had actually reviewed that very segment back in the day. It had been about food and family bonds, and the article had received a pretty good response. However, "At the time, the higher-ups sent a message to arrange it."

Oh, the on-camera reporter, Xiao Xiao, understood now. She was someone with connections. No wonder she was able to get on Federation News so early on. Her sensitivity to trending topics made Xiao Xiao feel that this Jiang Qiuqiu could be a breakthrough point. "Wasn’t there a rumor going around that her background wasn’t that great? Yet someone is still backing her? Could there be another reason behind this?"

"What is her personality like? So many people consider her a genius..." Xiao Xiao trailed off. In short, the girl was full of sensational potential. "We can make her a key interview target when the time comes."

"Okay." The director acknowledged this and highlighted Jiang Qiuqiu’s name in red.

"Aside from her, another one with good sensational value is the student from that noble family..."

"The team leaders include the dean of Federation University’s Spirit Healing Department. He’s an important figure, but he rarely accepts interviews. We probably won’t be able to invite him."

For someone of his level, if he didn’t want to do it, that was the end of it; just showing his face was already giving them face. No one wanted to go looking for trouble and step on that landmine. "What about besides him? Is there anyone else?"

"There is. The one leading Rose College this time is that rather famous noble dean. She’s also a breakthrough point."

She was someone who often spoke without thinking, believed in the absolute supremacy of nobles, and wasn’t very smart. This kind of person frequently made outrageous statements.

After taking stock of all the potential highlights, Xiao Xiao nodded. "Let’s do a good job. If this column becomes a hit, we’ll get a commission too."

"Maybe we’ll even get better interview assignments next time."

The team members nodded in unison.

Ting Mo silently sat a little further away. Before entering this industry, she had thought that the Sword of Damocles hung high over every journalist’s head. She believed that every reporter was a blade meant to cleave through the heavy haze of darkness. However, after joining the field, her burning passion had slowly been extinguished.

This was just another ordinary industry.

—

By the time Federation News’s Teleportation Mecha arrived at Q3 Planet, it was already approaching evening.

They were all veterans who were used to business trips via teleportation, so they all still looked quite energetic. Because orders had been handed down from above, the local government sent someone to receive them as soon as they landed.