Baird Helgeson
Verified
As seen in:
Newsday,
The Minnesota Star Tribune,
Tampa Bay Times,
Houston Chronicle,
Investigative Reporters and Editors,
The National Memo
Covers:
city government., taxes., minnesota state government, minnesota governor, minnesota lottery, mark dayton, state budget, politics.
Baird Helgeson is managing editor at Newsday on Long Island, New York.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
City government reporter for the Minot Daily News.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Only in an antique shop.
How is social media changing news?
It has made it much easier not to miss things, but the blizzard of information has made it harder to dig deeper and find truer stories.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Raoul Duke
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be a seeker of truth, a conveyor of fact and possess a relentless desire to find the signal amid the noise.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
E-mail
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Office suite.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook
Who do you wish followed you?
Bill Clinton, George W. Bush.
Why did you become a journalist?
Out of an abiding love to tell great stories.
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?
Stories about Without Walls International Church or troubles at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write, write, think critically, write and relish the discovery of new tools that can make you even better.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Morning.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.