Andy McDonough
Verified
As seen in:
Church Production,
Issuu,
Flipboard,
American Songwriter,
Guitar World,
Musicradar,
Roland,
Earth Island Journal,
Guitar Player,
The Two River Times,
The Music & Sound Retailer
Covers:
Technology, Arts and Entertainment, Education, Ecology
Writer, Photographer, Educator, and Technical Consultant
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Local newspaper
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes.
How is social media changing news?
Things are more immediate, often (for me at least) less creative, and marketing/SEO driven.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being a journalist is to be a great communicator and a fair reporter on the world around us.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#expertsexchange
Intended meaning: "Experts Exchange"
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
It really doesn't matter as long as we are communicating.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
MS Word, Google Docs, Adobe Creative Suite, Ghostwriter, MadCap Flare, HTML, Content Management and Sitebuilding tools of all kinds.
What's your favorite social network?
The jury is still out.
Who do you wish followed you?
Assuming you mean on social media ;-), my friends.
Why did you become a journalist?
Honestly, I'm not sure. I've always loved the research and communicating what I learn. Maybe, I am more of an educator in print?
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, however I work for several year as a writer and photographer that was a wonderful experience. Thank you Two River TImes in Red Bank, NJ.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I don't have one story that I am most proud of. So many topics posted here are important to me that to pick one is not possible.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep writing no matter what. Find some outlets for what you like to write rather the writing jobs until the right job comes along.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime at all!
What's the best pitch you ever got?
American Songwriter Magazine asked me to write on how Taylor Guitars is building a line of instruments from abandoned urban wood.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I was once asked to write a convining letter that would entice the NBA to change their rules to please more fans.
What's your favorite drink?
A good scotch if it's after hours and water in hours.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
playing music
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Again, here I am a mixed bag. I tend to pick up a few; newspapers, magazines, online content. I do like The Guardian and The New Yorker.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That I cover one topic or business area.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.