What was your first job as a journalist?
I wrote a huge volume of freelance content for a site called Part Time Poker, which no longer exists.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Not professionally.
How is social media changing news?
It has democratized news, which is good but extremely messy, just like all democracy.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Journalism is about helping people to parse reality. Simultaneously expanding context and reducing confusion.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I don't really pay attention to hashtags. Covfefe is memorable, at least.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I'm a writer, so I like communicating in written form. Email is good.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
WordPress, Excel, Google Office, Photoshop
What's your favorite social network?
It used to be Twitter. I don't know where to go next.
Who do you wish followed you?
That's not something I think about. I just want to help people understand things, I don't care who.
Why did you become a journalist?
Unintentionally. I started out writing about games and gambling on internet forums until people started offering to pay me to do it.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I submitted one humorous article. They stripped out all the jokes without consulting me, so I never wrote another.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I really enjoyed digging into the data for my Pennsylvania problem gambling calls piece for PlayUSA.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Always tell the truth as you understand it. If your editor won't let you tell the truth, find a different job.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Doesn't matter, as long as it's by email. If it's later than mid-afternoon, you might not get a response until the following day.
What's your favorite drink?
In the summer, I like to make tea concentrates and mix them with ginger ale for a sort of mocktail.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In the woods, the disc golf course, in the kitchen, or painting at my art table.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Depends on what I'm reading about. I tend to prefer specialized outlets to the generalist media.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
People who've never read us might assume everything we publish is promotion, but we keep news 100% separate from revenue deals.
