Ben Botkin on Muck Rack

Ben Botkin

Verified
Oregon
As seen in: Lookout Local, USA Today, Yahoo News, U.S. News and World Report, Flipboard, The Mercury News, The Seattle Times, The Denver Post, The Oregonian, Yahoo, Washington Times and
Covers:  State government and agencies, corrections, health care, mental health, the insurance industry, the Legislature and any other stories that require digging.
Doesn't Cover: I don't cover anything without a connection to government and people.
Senior Correspondent at Lookout Eugene-Springfield. Public records/data geek. @SPJOregon board member. Tips: ben@lookoutlocal.com
Back to Ben Botkin’s profile

Interview

Have you ever used a typewriter?

No.

How is social media changing news?

#lvrj

Who's your favorite fictional journalist?

Fiction + journalist = not a good combination.

What does it mean to be a journalist?

Ask tough questions, dig deep and look for stories away from the pack.

What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?

#Vegas

How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?

I prefer tips to pitches.

What tools and software do you use to do your job?

A little of everything -- Dropbox, Twitter, VidTrim for videos and a camera.

What's your favorite social network?

Twitter.

What story are you most proud of writing or working on?

Whatever my last one is at the moment.

What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?

Don't get into this job for the money. Only go for journalism if you have a fire in your belly.

When's the best time to pitch you?

You'll know if I have time to visit.
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