What was your first job as a journalist?
Radio DJ while stationed at the Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, 1994-1995.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
yes.
How is social media changing news?
Journalists need to understand how algorithms work and the science behind how people engage with social media.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Murphy Brown
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It's a profession where you get to influence people so it requires great thought and consideration.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
email
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Canva, Apple and Apple Notes.
What's your favorite social network?
LinkedIn.
Who do you wish followed you?
Oprah.
Why did you become a journalist?
To highlight the courage and sacrifice by our military members.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes, worked on school newspaper and yearbook club.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Covering combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be curious and stay open-minded. Learn how to use tech tools to create imagery and content that supports your storytelling abilities.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Best time to pitch me is mornings from 9am-12pm.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Covering the military on Veterans Day.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Something related to transgender people...
What's your favorite drink?
Mocha from Starbucks.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At the beach!
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Sunset Magazine.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That you have to have served in the military to cover the military.
