What was your first job as a journalist?
Covering the town of Montville, Conn. for the Norwich Bulletin
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
Social media speeds up the news cycle and makes it easier to find sources and information. What hasn't changed are the ethics and essentials.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Lois Lane
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Telling people's stories; informing the public about something they may not already know; being fair to the evidence; writing well.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Emails and phone calls.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Twitter and Skype - a lot. Audacity, some. LinkedIn a bit.
What's your favorite social network?
Professionally - Twitter. Personally - Facebook
Who do you wish followed you?
European journalists, European media outlets, European free speech advocates, etc
Why did you become a journalist?
I love telling true stories. I love research. I love talking with people.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes. My friend Kathy and I essentially wrote, re-wrote, edited and laid out the whole paper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
As far as I know, I was the first American journalist to report on the worldwide obesity problem - for a Sunday article in the NY TImes.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't do it.
When's the best time to pitch you?
During the European day
