What was your first job as a journalist?
Working for a journalist in Sri Lanka, interviewing almost every person in a small fort town and writing 'real life' stories of the community
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I'd love to!
How is social media changing news?
The pressure on speed is always intensifying, but also the 'scoop' is becoming less relevant.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Figuring out the really salient point or new development among the web of information we have access to in our digital age.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Send me a short email. I like to receive a bullet point suggestions for articles you could help with, or single story ideas.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Spreadsheets for data management and basic analysis, Calendly for scheduling, Zapier for automating admin tasks, Otter.ai for transcription
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Why did you become a journalist?
I wanted to use my skills in research, writing and analysis to tell stories which help others understand important issues.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
My high school didn't have a newspaper!
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
One of the few articles I've written that wasn't overly technical: a look at how and why startup culture doesn't accommodate paternity leave
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Work out what your strengths are, be proud of them and advocate for the right opportunities for yourself.
When's the best time to pitch you?
No preference
What's your favorite drink?
Water (Volvic - I can taste the difference!)
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In a cafe writing my novel, doing yoga, enjoying the outdoors or in the kitchen experimenting with making my own natural cosmetics
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Wired
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Artificially intelligent beings are being developed and are going to take control.
