What was your first job as a journalist?
I worked at my university's independent student newspaper, working my way up to become editor-in-chief.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes -- my sister and I used to write stories on the two ancient typewriters we had in our basement.
How is social media changing news?
Social media is a way to connect with the community & readers. It provides real-time updates in an easily digestible format.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
"The Newsroom"'s MacKenzie McHale.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being a journalist means taking it upon yourself to ensure your community is as well-informed on public matters as possible.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Tell me why it's relevant and newsworthy, but don't dumb it down for me.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
InDesign, iMovie, Photoshop, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Soundslides, multimedia, graphic design,
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter. Definitely.
Who do you wish followed you?
The editor of The New York Times.
Why did you become a journalist?
Between my lifelong interest in writing and my love of hearing people's stories, journalism was the only answer for me for a career.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
My high school's newspaper was a class, so I could rarely fit it into my schedule. When I could, I most did opinion and A&E articles.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
During my year as editor-in-chief at The News Record, I developed a Watchdog Reports initiative, where we focused on investigative reporting.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Immerse yourself in media. If you're a journalism student, work at your student newspaper. Go find an internship. Freelance. Anything.
