The Grill Room Sorkin’s Rules of Engagement
10 snips
Dec 16, 2025 
Andrew Ross Sorkin, founder of DealBook and co-host of CNBC's Squawk Box, shares insights from his dynamic media career. He discusses his daily routine, emphasizing quality over quantity in journalism. Sorkin reveals his interview techniques, highlighting empathy as a crucial tool for engaging tough guests. He shares anecdotes about his most impactful interviews, including with Elon Musk, and dreams of inviting the Pope to the DealBook Summit. Aspiring journalists will appreciate his advice on specialization and audience engagement.
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Adopt An Early, Structured Routine
- Wake up early and structure your day around core priorities like newsletters and live shows.
- Protect sleep by aiming for consistent bedtimes (Sorkin prefers 9:30–10:00pm).
Be The Morning Spark For Your Audience
- Aim to provide readers and viewers with smart sparks and scoops that fuel their morning conversations.
- Good journalism arms your audience to show up to meetings "armed and dangerous."
Use Opinion Sparingly And With Evidence
- Pick moments to deploy forceful opinion sparingly so your judgments retain impact.
- Do deep reporting first so when you opine, you speak with authority and credibility.
