What was your first job as a journalist?
Opinion piece on Ray Rice's abuse controversy for The Times-Delphic sports section.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. Didn't break it either.
How is social media changing news?
Reaching more people with shorter attention spans; more news is dispersed, but with less depth.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
The kid from Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To illuminate truth wherever it can be found.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
will forever be my favorite hashtag.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email forever.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Office; Adobe InDesign, Premiere, Photoshop and Lightroom; DSLR camera (stills and video); all social media platforms; Wordpress
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook — Reaches the most people and is the most versatile and diverse platform
Who do you wish followed you?
The only names that come to mind aren't alive anymore: Hunter S. Thompson and David Foster Wallace
Why did you become a journalist?
To hear stories and share them.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
We didn't have one, so I kinda got fed to the sharks in college at the outset.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Two boxing stories: a personal experience essay and mini-documentary. Check them out on urban-plains.com.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Put your head down and do good work. Don't draw undeserved attention to yourself. True success belongs to the humble.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I don't have a consistent sleep or work schedule, so surprise me.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The Gambler 500 — 500-mile navigational challenge in a $500 car.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Halloween canine costumes...
What's your favorite drink?
Mountain Dew
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
On my phone or taking a nap between projects
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Rolling Stone
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Journalists are not synonymous with bloggers or columnists.
