Amie Steffen
Verified
As seen in:
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier,
U.S. News and World Report,
The Seattle Times,
Miami Herald,
Washington Times,
The Charlotte Observer,
Des Moines Register,
Lexington Herald-Leader,
The News & Observer,
The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA),
Times Union (Albany)
and
Covers:
bands, cedar falls, iowa, entertainment, waterloo, music, race, social justice
this is for music stuff now.
DM to book (virtual, outdoor, studio work)
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first job out of college was at a tiny daily in northern Minnesota lake country, doing everything from writing to editing to layout.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I'm in my 20s. Does that answer the question?
How is social media changing news?
Everyone is a gatekeeper. We decide exactly what we want to read and what we want to filter out. If we're not careful, it can be polarizing.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I have yet to read about a fictional journalist that doesn't break several cardinal rules of journalism, so I can't say I have a favorite.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
I think it means being in service to your community. You owe it to them, more than anyone else, to give them truth and information.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Right now, #nbcfail is a great sum-up of NBC's Olympics missteps in real time. But hilarious ones come and go very quickly.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
We're a regional paper in the Internet age. Our readers can go anywhere for general stories. So tell me: what is the tie to the Cedar Valley?
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Smartphone, a working (fast) work computer and an Internet connection to all for research. Also a pen, lots of notebooks and a bulky planner.
What's your favorite social network?
Still Facebook. People are slowly gravitating to Twitter, but it's still infinitely easier to connect and have conversations on Facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
On Twitter, I geek out about anyone with that "verified" stamp. IRL, I don't want anyone following me, because that's creepy.
Why did you become a journalist?
I love to write, and I wanted my writing to have an effect on my community because I love my community and want them to be in the know.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.