What was your first job as a journalist?
My first published industry contribution was to an AGTA PRISM article on demantoid garnet.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
Speed and reach, anyone can deliver news at this point.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Maya Angelou
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means being responsible for delivering the best information you can find in a clear and meaningful way that the audience enjoys.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email or text
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Office, CANVA, CapCuT, Edits
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
Everyone who truly wants to learn about gems, jewelry, and watches.
Why did you become a journalist?
Storytelling became the best way for me to teach about gems, jewelry, history, and value in a clear, accessible way.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
no
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The Jewelry Book.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write about subjects that you are both knowledgable and passionate about.
When's the best time to pitch you?
before 8 am or after 4 pm
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The Jewelry Book
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
To ghost write for an expert in gems and jewelry
What's your favorite drink?
Extra dark coffee with extra cream
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Visiting museums, auction houses, antique stores, and bookstores.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Vanity Fair on Jewellery
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That gems and jewelry are only about luxury and sparkle. My beat is really about science, craftsmanship, provenance, culture, and story.
