By Krista Giannak

Emily Ngo covers national politics at Newsday. As a White House Washington bureau reporter, Ngo covered President Donald Trump’s first year in office, and she previously followed both Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on their 2016 presidential campaign trails. Other career highlights also include political analysis on NPR, MSNBC, and NY1, as well as working on the staffs of the New York Post and amNewYork. Contact her at emily.ngo@newsday.com.

On The Campaign Trail

After having covered congressional and gubernatorial campaigns, Ngo worked the fast-paced and action-packed 2013 New York City elections featuring Anthony Weiner in the mayoral race and Eliot Spitzer in the comptroller race. The campaign trail needs “fast” and “clean” writers who can turn around quick copy after long hours, Ngo said. “A good ear for identifying news in otherwise-routine stump speeches is also quite necessary.”

When Trump Won the Election

Ngo had been following both Hillary Clinton’s and Donald Trump’s campaigns, and she was assigned to Clinton’s Manhattan election night party. She described the feel of that eventful night: “I remember vividly that the mood among Clinton supporters at the Javits Center turned very dramatically from euphoria to gloom as the results were announced, swing state by swing state. We reinterviewed people as the night wore on. Clinton didn’t turn up that night to her election event to address supporters; John Podesta came in her stead. Those Clinton backers who remained at the venue into the early morning were in a state of shock. Many left in tears.”

In the following weeks, Ngo covered Trump’s transition from Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, and she then followed him to the White House to cover his presidency.

Covering All Angles

When asked about avoiding political bias, Ngo explained: “I try to add context to an issue and then represent and quote from as many angles as possible, knowing there can be more than two sides.”

Ngo also commented on the politically polarized environment, saying: “Understandably, someone out there will find something biased against their viewpoint in any story.”

To anyone considering political analysis as a career, Ngo advised: “Take in as many viewpoints on as many topics as you can. Read everything you can, from every angle. Talk with politicians, aides, and consultants of every stripe. Tell the stories that are below the surface and beyond the sound bites. The most useful analyses tell readers and viewers why they should care, how the news will affect their communities and how it could change their party or the country.”

Accepting PR Pitches

Ngo deals mostly with representatives of known campaigns or elected officials. “It helps a publicist’s case to know my beat and what I cover. I’ve gotten some very, very off-topic pitches that I will smile at but ultimately disregard,” Ngo said. She also pays more attention to PR professionals who follow their email pitches with a phone call. You need tenacity in journalism and public relations,” she added.