She thinks familiarity with language, along with an understanding of indigenous affairs and culture have laid a foundation for doing stories about indigenous people. Other than that, it will depend on individual character and professional grounding. Some of these prerequisites are innate, while others can be gained by learning. "It takes time," she observes.
來自台東，原先從事木雕工作的李秀妹說，她認為，語言的熟悉，對原住民事務、文化的理解，已經打下作為採訪原住民事務的基本礎石，再來就看個人的性格特質及專業基礎了，而這些有些是天生的，有些得憑後天努力，「需要時間」，她說。