Ashley Pichea
Verified
As seen in:
Awesome Mitten,
Rooted Wanderings,
MSN,
Yahoo News,
Fox News,
WWJ-TV (Detroit, MI),
Flipboard,
North Bay Business Journal,
WXYZ-TV (Southfield, MI),
Killeen Daily Herald,
The San Francisco Examiner,
WBBJ-TV (Jackson, TN)
and
Covers:
family travel, couples travel, Christian faith, home management
Doesn't Cover:
politics, fashion, entertainment
Nationally syndicated writer featuring Christian faith, family travel, & home management.
Wife & mom of five kids ranging from elementary to college.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first article was published in my elementary school newspaper. Since then, I've worked for a number of publications as well as freelanced.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes - I learned how to type on my grandma's typewriter as a young girl.
How is social media changing news?
Social media is watering down real news. Too many "breaking stories" are sensational in nature or missing actual facts.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Harriet the Spy. Hands down my favorite literary character as a kid. I frequently pretended to be her, sneaking around with my notebook.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Digging deep to discover the facts and presenting them in a clear and unbiased way to inform others.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I find it hilarious when a news outlet uses a hashtag without looking to see what other words are hiding in it.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email is preferred for initial contact.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I love my Chromebook... and the Google Business Suite.
What's your favorite social network?
I tend to avoid most social media for personal purposes, but I do get on Facebook most days to keep up with friends and family.
Who do you wish followed you?
I'm all about helping families connect, so I'd love to have families wanting to travel together following along for inspiration.
Why did you become a journalist?
To educate, to inspire, to encourage.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A recent favorite is my coverage of the northern lights in Michigan - I learned a lot about the science behind the phenomenon.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write. Write. Write. Get the facts, and double-check them.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I check my pitches first thing in the morning. If something catches my interest, I can usually rearrange my day to fit it in.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
A full family trip (expenses covered, paid content, plus on-site perks) for a weekend at one of our favorite Midwest amusement parks.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
$20 voucher to cover an event that would cost me several hundred dollars in travel expenses, and no content fee.
What's your favorite drink?
I'm a coffee snob, preferring a smooth dark roast. Or a really good espresso.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
With my family and friends - on the lake, around the table, in the stands (at the gym or ballfield).
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I actually don't read many publications other than for research. I prefer fiction novels.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
In the world of family travel, I frequently get lumped in with mommy bloggers.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.