Interview
How is social media changing news?
Social media is changing news by making it easier for information, both accurate and inaccurate, to spread quickly. People are constantly exposed to content that is not always verified, and many do not take the time to check its validity. Instead, there is often a pull toward more outrageous or attention-grabbing stories, even if they are not fully factual. Social media creates an environment where entertainment can outweigh accuracy, making it more important than ever for journalists to prioritize truth and credibility.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I’d say Rory Gilmore; she’s thoughtful, observant, and focused on telling stories with depth and authenticity.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To me, being a journalist means telling people’s stories in a way that brings out perspectives even they may not have seen in the moment. It’s about being informed and making sure others are too, sharing facts while keeping people engaged through storytelling. Most importantly, it means staying true and authentic—approaching every story with honesty, clarity, and respect for real human experiences.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I would have to say#FakeNewsOrNah
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I use Google Docs and or Microsoft Word, Canva, Grammarly, Chat GPT, Claude AI, and Otter AI.
What's your favorite social network?
I would have to say my favorite social network is TikTok.
Who do you wish followed you?
I wish Shonda Rhimes followed me.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, I didn't. But I did work as a staff writer for the newspaper at Northern Illinois University when I attended.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I would have to say the very first biography I wrote, which was for Kent Faulcon, who is known for playing Jake Jensen in Men in Black.
When's the best time to pitch you?
The best time to pitch to me is in the morning between 9 and 11 am.
What's your favorite drink?
I love all flavors of lemonade.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Common misconceptions across my beats—beauty, education, and U.S. culture—are that they’re surface-level or one-dimensional. Beauty is often reduced to appearance rather than identity and self-expression, education is seen as a one-size-fits-all path, and U.S. narratives are treated as universal despite diverse lived experiences. I focus on uncovering the deeper, more nuanced realities behind each.
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