Yoav Gonen on His Experience Adopting an American Name

In Chapter 1 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental to Shaping Who You Are Today?" Gonen shares how moving around as a child - by 25 he had lived in 9 cities - proved challenging with having a foreign name difficult to pronounce. He changes his name during college to something easier to pronounce and later switches back to Yoav and embraces it for its difference. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. 

Yoav Gonen on Developing Work Ethic by Doing Something You Enjoy

In Chapter 2 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "Where Did You Learn Your Work Ethic?" Gonen shares how learning to work hard and develop a work ethic came naturally by doing things he enjoyed. He finds just because it is called "work" it does not have to feel that way if you have fun doing it. When smaller tasks need to come before more enjoyable ones, he takes an eager approach to knock out short-term tasks to work on long-term projects. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Life Lessons Waiting Tables in First Job After College

In Chapter 3 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What Did You Learn in Your First Job After College That is Still Relevant Today?" In his first job after college, Gonen waits tables working at a Philadelphia restaurant called Alligators. Waiting tables pushes Gonen to trust himself learning new things such as carrying a tray full of drinks over your head, especially when you do not have a choice. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Finding Better Ways to Reflect on Your Life and Work

In Chapter 4 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What Role Has Reflection Played in Shaping Your Personal Growth?" Over the years, Gonen has taken multiple approaches to facilitate reflection. In his twenties, Gonen found therapy a useful tool for reflection. In recent years he has kept a daily journal of his thoughts that allows him to revisit what he was thinking and how he reacted. Now many years into a reporting career, Gonen looks for ways to step back and take time to think about his life and his work. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Two Ways to Test and Validate Your Career Choices

In Chapter 5 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "At This Moment in Your Life, Where Are You Seeking Advice and Coaching?" Gonen gains career planning insights from co-workers leaving their newspaper reporting jobs to change careers. He also reaches out to writers he admires for career advice. In both instances, he finds validation in his work and learns to better appreciate what he does for a living. Shortly after this interview, Gonen was promoted from education reporter to New York City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Ways to Keep Beat Reporting Stories Fresh Over Time

In Chapter 6 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What New Challenges Are You Facing in Your Journalism and Reporting Career?" Working on the education beat as a newspaper journalist for nearly six years, Gonen looks for ways to keep his stories fresh after reporting on topics that repeat over time. He looks to different story formats to do deeper reporting and pushes himself to find new work routines to get out of the office and do reporting work on the street and at events. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Newspaper Reporter Yoav Gonen on Building Storyfinding Job Skills

In Chapter 7 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What Skills Are You Using More as Your Career Advances?" Gonen shares how he is honing two types of job skills to find newsworthy stories. He first learns how to build better news source relationships and how to talk to news sources to obtain information the general public will value. Second, he hones his approach to story research and building online research skills. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Identifying New Ways to Improve News Writing Skills

In Chapter 8 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What Skills Are You Working on Right Now to Become Better at Your Job?" As Gonen gains confidence, he sees what other reporters are writing as a learning opportunity and not a threat. Following reporters he admires on social media helps him look for new ways to report the news. Additionally, Gonen invests time taking Hebrew classes and benefits from the process of learning a language. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Gaining Confidence Working in Newspaper Reporting

In Chapter 9 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What Role Does Confidence Play in the Work That You Do?" When he joined the New York Post, Gonen identified what he did not know and invested time and effort to establish a list of sources and gain knowledge of the education beat. This reduced the number of surprises he encountered at work and allowed him to worry less about what the competition was doing and focus more on his own work. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Newspaper Reporter Yoav Gonen on Building Communication Job Skills

In Chapter 10 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "How Are You Learning to Communicate More Effectively?" Gonen finds effective communication comes with comfort sharing your feelings. As he builds relationships in the office, he improves communication by getting more comfortable sharing his feelings about a story. Outside the office, Gonen learns the importance of getting potential sources comfortable talking to you before asking difficult questions. He also learns how to maintain open communication channels by gathering story evidence before asking sources to confirm or deny the story. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Gaining Job Responsibility in a Reporting Career

In Chapter 11 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "How Are Your Responsibilities Changing As Your Career Evolves?" As he gains experience, Gonen shares how his bosses trust him more and give him more independence. The additional responsibility pushes Gonen to take more control of what and how beat reporting topics get covered and frees up his editors to focus on other pressing needs. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on How to Establish Trust When Building Relationships

In Chapter 12 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" A key part of Gonen's newspaper reporting job is building trust working with sources. To earn trust, Gonen tells potential sources that he must be trusting to do his job well. Letting sources down and going back on his word would hurt his reputation for fair reporting and jeopardize his job security and career. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Managing Changing Relationships in News Reporting

In Chapter 13 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?" In six years reporting on the "education beat", Gonen shares how turnover in the Department of Education - or DOE - has required him to adjust to working styles of new DOE employees. Working a job where communication is important, he finds relying too much on email over phone or face-to-face is not a good idea and is challenged by new DOE employees who prefer email over phone calls. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Performing Under Pressure Meeting Story Deadlines

In Chapter 14 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What Does It Mean to Perform Under Pressure in the Work That You Do?" Gone shares how deadline writing culture and the pressures it creates is a given in newspaper reporting. He finds the multiple daily deadline pressures more motivating than stressful. He shares another job pressure of newspaper journalism: staying ahead of the peer competition on your beat. Peer competition also creates pressure though. With experience Gonen thinks about it less as stress and more of a given in the nature of his work. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Staying Productive Managing a Busy Schedule

In Chapter 15 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What Do You Find Are the Keys to Managing a Busy Schedule and Getting Things Done?" Gonen shares how he has learned to make lists and focus on incremental progress achieving three to-do list items each day. As days and weeks pass, he is able to work through challenges large and small and feel more in control of his life. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Adapting When Things Go Differently Than Planned

In Chapter 16 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "How Have You Learned to Adapt When Things Have Not Worked Out as Planned?" Gonen shares how having a Plan B backup plan in place is very useful writing newspaper stories. In his education beat reporter job role, storylines shift and given deadline nature of work, Gonen uses a backup plan to make sure he has something for his editors even if the main story does not work out. Personally, Gonen shares how having a backup plan in place has been a bit more difficult, from not having an apartment purchase work out on time to having a prolonged recovery from an injury. He works on focusing efforts on things more in his control to manage life uncertainties. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Getting Paid to Do What You Love

In Chapter 17 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "How Are Your Personal Experiences Shaping Your Professional Aspirations?" Gonen shares how difficult if not impossible it is to separate work and life. In a newspaper beat reporting job covering education, being on call means that work issues occur regularly outside business hours. He finds satisfaction in that he loves his work and that his work feeds his passion for exploring and visiting all aspects of the city where he lives. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Yoav Gonen on Turning 40 and Planning for the Future

In Chapter 18 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What is on Your Mind as You Turn 40 This Year?" As he hits the age 40 milestone, Gonen notes that like it or not, you are forced to reflect. After a tough 39th year full of challenges including a physical injury and recovery, Gonen looks ahead to fully embracing 40 and making the most out of the year ahead. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.