Ben Gran
As seen in:
MSN,
Yahoo Life,
Business Insider,
Forbes,
Forbes Advisor,
Aol,
Yahoo Finance,
Flipboard,
Business Insider Deutschland,
Miami Herald
and
Covers:
Banking, Investing, Personal Finance, Retirement Planning, Business, Entrepreneurship
Doesn't Cover:
Fashion, celebrities, specific new products/gadgets
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I wrote articles for my hometown newspaper, the Newton Daily News, as a volunteer "foreign correspondent" from Japan.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, as a child.
How is social media changing news?
I used to think social media was a "good thing" for news, but now I worry that it's just ruining everything.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Can't think of any off the top of my head.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Tell the truth, deliver value for the reader, stand up for what's right even when it's not profitable.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I try to avoid social media, sorry.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email only, please.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Slack, Outlook, Safari, Chrome, Zoom.
What's your favorite social network?
They're all terrible. But Bluesky seems promising, for now (as of Dec. 2024)
Who do you wish followed you?
More people who want to hire me!
Why did you become a journalist?
Writing, researching, and being in dialogue with the Internet is the only thing I know how to do. I have no other skills!
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, I had no idea at that age that I was ever going to be a writer. I was more into science/chemistry/physics.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I wrote a multi-part long form story about real people's experiences with being unemployed during the pandemic.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Just keep hustling, keep your chin up, try to get your foot in the door in a lot of places, and have a positive attitude!
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime! I work weird hours.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Anything that shows that you've actually read my work, you like some previous thing I wrote, and your pitch is relevant to my editors.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Inhuman AI-generated slop.
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee! I love my Nespresso machine. I usually consume 6 shots of espresso per day.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Going for a walk in my beloved leafy neighborhood. Or in Europe.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I'm currently reconsidering my media diet.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That we don't want to hear from PR people/don't want pitches. I love good pitches, I value talented, on-point PR pros!
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.