You agreed to be interviewed by a reporter. Hopefully you came off well.

Contents 1 Acquisition 2 Walkthrough 2.1 Mass Effect 2 Consequences 3 Trivia

Acquisition Edit

After completing a key mission world (Therum, Noveria or Feros) and returning to the Citadel, Shepard will be confronted by a reporter named Khalisah Al-Jilani outside the C-Sec Academy lift down from the docking bay. Al-Jilani introduces herself as a Westerlund News reporter who wants to give people back home a sense of how Shepard will represent them as a Spectre.

Walkthrough Edit

If Shepard agrees, Al-Jilani asks leading questions about Shepard's Spectre status, the Normandy, and whether the Citadel Council's interests conflict with those of the Alliance. You can answer each question or simply tell her to buzz off. Using Charm or Intimidate responses tend to give Shepard the upper hand in the interview. One Renegade response even involves Shepard punching Al-Jilani. Alternatively, Shepard can realise Al-Jilani has an agenda—portraying Shepard as a "shill for the Council"—and can simply walk away.

Later aboard the Normandy, a transmission will come through from Admiral Hackett at the Fifth Fleet, either praising or reprimanding Shepard for the commander's conduct in the interview, depending on the player's choices. If Shepard told Al-Jilani that Saren Arterius was behind the Eden Prime attack, Hackett reports that this caused a minor diplomatic stir with the Council (they've been trying to downplay any Spectre involvement in Eden Prime) but tells Shepard not to worry about it, the Council's always angry with the Alliance anyway.

A news report in the Citadel elevator later on also gives the media's response to Shepard's interview.

Note: If Charm or Intimidate skills are used, the resulting Paragon / Renegade points will be added only after Admiral Hackett has briefed Shepard about the interview results. Anything Shepard may say in the conversation with Admiral Hackett will have no effect on Paragon / Renegade points.

Note: If you complete Noveria and speak to Al-Jilani before doing any of the other main worlds, it turns out news of the events at Peak 15 has already got back to the Citadel, but stonewalling from Binary Helix means the reports are confused, only mentioning a lab accident and how the events have been handled by Administrator Anoleis. Al-Jilani, knowing Shepard has just returned from Noveria, asks directly if the Council ordered Shepard to sabotage the labs at Peak 15.

Note: If you killed the colonists on Feros, instead of incapacitating them, and speak to Al-Jilani before doing any of the other main worlds, you will hear the news that ExoGeni is shutting down the colony when taking the elevator down to the C-Sec Academy. In the interview Al-Jilani asks Shepard about the reason for the colony's destruction.

Mass Effect 2 Consequences Edit

If you complete this assignment, Khalisah will be waiting in the corner of the 28th floor of the Zakera Ward, next to the Dark Star lounge. This time, however, Shepard is much wiser about her goals. This offers easy xp and Paragon/Renegade points. She'll comment on you punching her the last time if you decided to do so.

Trivia Edit

• Westerlund is a unique and distinctive star cluster in the Local Group.
• "The Fourth Estate" is a term for journalists that dates back to the early 19th century.