Awanthi Vardaraj
(She/Her)
Covers:
food, women's health, women's rights, social justice, memoir, travel
Doesn't Cover:
politics, tech
Absent-minded writer & editor. Cat mum. Team Cake For Breakfast. She/Her
My work: muckrack.com/awanthi
Buy me coffee? ko-fi.com/awanthi
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Local beats, which is why I'm passionate about local news. It makes up an important cog in the wheel that is journalism.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes! I learned to type on my grandfather's old one.
How is social media changing news?
More people following the news and being interested in stories as they break.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Sacharissa Cripslock. Oh, and Tintin.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To chase the story, no matter where it may be.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I've seen some ridiculous ones. Probably
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email, and keep it short. If you can't sell it in one paragraph, it needs work.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Laptop, MS Word, fingers, brain, go.
What's your favorite social network?
I don't really have one. Social media is a necessity, and not something I necessarily enjoy.
Who do you wish followed you?
I'm not sure. Is 'I don't really care' an acceptable answer?
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I love to tell stories, I love for those stories to matter, and I love that my words make a difference.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
My high school didn't have a newspaper. It's not common for Indian high schools, unfortunately.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Oh this is a hard one. Probably my BBC piece. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20180315-a-surprising-friendship-in-dublin
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't give up when you hear no, and you WILL hear no, a lot. Oh, and see the story in everything.
When's the best time to pitch you?
During the day! Morning to late afternoon on weekdays is best.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
It was one sentence that read something like 'I'm the only person who can tell this story'.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
It was an essay that was so convoluted it didn't really have a beginning - or an end.
What's your favorite drink?
Whiskey sour, keep 'em coming.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Reading on the couch, cooking in the kitchen, or out for a walk with my rambunctious and insane dog, Tofu.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Probably The Guardian.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Probably that we get free meals. The free meals are a lie. Also, I never accept freebies, because I personally think it isn't ethical.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.