Name: Mike SmarttJob title: Editor-in-chief, BBC News Interactive
How long have you been in this job: I have been editorially responsible for new media in BBC News for six and a half years. At one time, I was the only person working on it. (Now there are 450 in online, sports online and Interactive TV)
What does it entail: I am responsible for everything that appears on the BBC News websites and interactive TV and the editorial development of the department (which also includes the technical team for BBC Sport Online)
What is good about your job: It is at the forefront of much of the editorial and technical development for BBC News in the future. We are developing ways in which the next generations will access and consume their news and current affairs. It was also the chance of a lifetime to set up a completely new service on a new platform (BBC News Online) and set up a team from scratch.
What was your first job: Junior Reporter, The Wakefield Express Group
Did you train on the job or at a college: Both
How much did your first job pay: £6 a week
How long have you been in the industry: 36 years
Have you seen things change since you started: out Beyond recognition. Newspapers weren't quite printed on Caxton printing sets when I started out, but not far off.
Do you think new media is set to overtake traditional: Well, new media becomes traditional - new websites are now mainstream. The way people get their news is changing radically already - on all sorts of new platforms like mobile phones and PDAs - but I am not one who necessarily believes in convergence. There'll be more platforms in future, not fewer.
Why is online news so popular: Because it can combine the best of radio, TV and text in one place (successfully now with broadband providing high quality pictures and sound), offering huge choice for the user and is always up to date.
Do you still buy newspapers: Of course. Their nature has changed but they still fulfil a vital role. I speed-read them all for professional purposes and read several more deeply.
What news web site do you visit the most: The BBC naturally but I keep a good eye on all the opposition.
What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the media: Get some experience at the lower levels - make your mistakes (and you will make them) where fewer people can see or hear them. There is no substitute for experience. Take things slowly, there's a whole life in front of you.
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