Brendan O’Connor
Verified
(He/Him)
Covers:
Travel, food, Orlando, history, city planning, news, arts and culture.
Doesn't Cover:
Religion and politics.
Gadabout and boyfriend stealer
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first gig was as a calendar editor for a local alt weekly. It was awful. Data entry 24/7 was so boring, but I carved out some creative.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I have definitely used a typewriter. I even remember a typewriter workshop in elementary school once.
How is social media changing news?
Longform journalism is on the outs, with people demanding shorter and more concise updates. Just the facts. Served up in a cute, flashy way.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
April O'Neil from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has a special place in my mutant heart.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Journalists tell you the weather and keep you plugged in. Good journalists write about the climate so you know the whole picture.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
The one hashtag that sticks with me is
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I love a cold call or a cold email. Just lay it on me with the who, what, where, when, why, and I'll likely say yes. Especially travel pieces
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
WordPress, Instagram, Adobe Audition and InDesign, are all my best friends. Canva is a guilty sidepiece I don't talk about publicly.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram aways comes out ahead in the social network wars. At least for me. Followed by TikTok, Facebook, and Snap.
Who do you wish followed you?
I'd love more of our local sports icons to jump on the train and start reading local headlines, but I think they're too busy.
Why did you become a journalist?
I fell into journalism when I wasn't looking. And I never tried to dig my way out. Everything just kind of clicked.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
We barely had a year book, so no. But I probably would have run the "out-and-about" section with candid photos.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I'm really proud of a piece I did on the history of a notorious gay resort here in Orlando. It just turned out to be a really fresh piece.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Consistency and transparency is key in doing this longterm. If you ever lose your readers' trust, it's almost impossible to win them back.
When's the best time to pitch you?
There's no right time to pitch me - just pitch me. Send it on over and I'll take a look at it. I can't promise I'll respond immediately.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The best pitch I ever got was at a random party when sipping on a craft rum drink and the PR rep invited me to see the distillery.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
The worst pitch I ever got was probably for a foreskin restoration rally that was coming to town. It was so aggressive and disarming.
What's your favorite drink?
A go-to drink is a whiskey with ginger beer for something that's bubbly and smells like a cowboy. Arnold palmer with unsweet tea if good.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Either picking up trash on the beach with my pickle bucket, hosting drag bingo, or peeping through the windows at new businesses.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I think Monocle, by Gestalten, is one of the best publications out there. It's meaty. It's informative. It's design-heavy. And it's so smart.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I think the most common hurdle is the constant education of where my day job's coverage area is. Otherwise, it's that I'm in it for the food.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
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