Caitlyn Frolo
Verified
@tnd senior national online news producer • penn state ‘21 • nicolas🤍 • ivy🐱
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Hybrid digital content/newscast producer.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I definitely have not. My first phone had a touchscreen!
How is social media changing news?
It is definitely way more fast-paced than many people think! It also sheds light on the importance of accuracy!
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I don't have a good answer for this one!
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means you have to be willing to ask uncomfortable questions and always have a hunger for telling the truth!
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I think anything that comes from
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email for sure, so I can keep all the details straight and in writing!
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
So many! All social media, Crowdtangle, Meta Business Suite, AP, iNews, Stackla, Google Analytics, Canva, Adobe Premiere
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram!
Who do you wish followed you?
Definitely Taylor Swift.
Why did you become a journalist?
I like talking to people and having the chance to help our community get the answers they need and hold officials accountable.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I worked for the high school newspaper writing for each publication. I worked for The Daily Collegian at Penn State in college in many roles.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I like the breakdown I did of student loan debt in Virginia and how Biden's proposed plan would impact the average debt for schools here.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Work incredibly hard. The first few months you get a LOT of information thrown at you. It does get better!
When's the best time to pitch you?
Middle of the day! Not too tired or ready to go home, haha!
What's the best pitch you ever got?
One of my favorites was during my time at Penn State. A group working to help student-athletes with body-positivity issues.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I don't think any pitch I've got was bad, but definitely some from parents trying to get their kids on the news!
What's your favorite drink?
Can't pick just one. Raspberry lemonade, Pepsi slush, and Dr. Pepper, to name a few!
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Reading a book or watching a new show!
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I often find myself reading the latest from The Athletic. I follow sports when I'm not fully immersed in news!
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I cover a wide variety of stories, so I would say one misperception is that a beat stops simply at one location or area. It can reach far!
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.