What was your first job as a journalist?
I am proud to have worked for the Indiana Daily Student while in college studying journalism
Have you ever used a typewriter?
no, but my grandmother did!
How is social media changing news?
Social media is a double-edged sword, making it easier to access & distribute content, while also saturating the market w/ "stuff" & fluff
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Kent Brockman (Simpsons) hands down
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To provide unbiased information in a sufficiently thought-provoking manner empowering the reader to decide what to do with it
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Send me an email with a brief description of the topic/angle/ask and word count. I'm also always game to be a source/interviewee
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft word and a bunch of digital asset tools
What's your favorite social network?
LinkedIn
Who do you wish followed you?
Association leaders, Keanu Reeves, and Richard Branson
Why did you become a journalist?
I love story-telling and I love people, and this seems to bring both together rather nicely!
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Sadly I did not, as my love for journalism blossomed in college
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The article I wrote on moving from Diversity to Inclusion to Equity for the association community
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be clear on two things: who you are as a values-centered individual, and what you love communicating about. Then always refine your craft!
When's the best time to pitch you?
Early morning (before 10am)
What's the best pitch you ever got?
When I was asked to do some movie reviews back in college - don't even remember which movies, just recall getting to go see them for free!
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Something that was just an attempt to sell something or give me some fake award I had to pay for
What's your favorite drink?
Club soda
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At home with my family, or possibly on the golf course
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Kiplinger, Agency Nation, WSJ, Psychology Today, Washington Business Journal
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That there's a one-sized-shoe-fits-all answer to most financial problems
