Brenda Denzler
As seen in:
MedPage Today,
CURE Magazine
Covers:
PTSD (medical), cancer -- at least, today
Doesn't Cover:
Probably not many topics, if I were properly motivated and informed!
Writer and editor; owner of H.E.R.S. (with the bank); edge-walker.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
The first solid job where writing was a major part of my work was when I was on the university committee I described in my bio.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
OMG. You must be kidding. That's how I learned to "keyboard," as they now call it.
How is social media changing news?
Shorter info bits are required. Things that people would have had to dig to try to find, 20-40 years ago, are discoverable with a few clicks.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
An early love was Madeleine L'Engle.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Ask questions. Dig deep. Be as fair as you can to all parties. Report honestly. Be a "light-bringer."
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Via email, for initial contact.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
MS Word, mostly. DropBox. Lots of PDF creation and reading. Some scanning, spreadsheets, etc.
What's your favorite social network?
FaceBook
Who do you wish followed you?
Seriously...everyone in the health care field.
Why did you become a journalist?
I love to write, I have strong opinions, and I can't keep my mouth shut! I also have a "save the world" complex that I can't seem to conquer!
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No. I had not discovered my urge to write, at that point.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A story for the Cure website on alternative vs. conventional cancer treatments; a story on MedPage Today on being a difficult patient;....
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Read a lot. And, as they say, write drunk, edit sober. And edit. And edit. Paint a picture with your words.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime. I'm formally retired, so I have a lot of latitude in my schedule most of the time.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
From my 5-year-old grandson. :)
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Someone who wanted me to ghost write for them.
What's your favorite drink?
Unsweetend iced tea. Sorry it's not something exotic and dangerous!
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Reading, doing work around my property, visiting with my grandkids, having coffee or lunch with friends (before COVID, obviously).
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
MedPage is always pretty thought-provoking. Love the jokes in Reader's Digest to lighten up my day.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That medical PTSD is "just" being afraid of whatever diagnosis you have received. It's really quite different than that.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.