What was your first job as a journalist?
Community newspaper.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes.
How is social media changing news?
By making news a two-way street. Maybe even a four-lane highway.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Nancy Drew. She would have made a great investigative journalist.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To seek truth and share it.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Short, concise emails.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Drupal, Wordpress, Adobe Creative Suite, Storify, Powtoon, the list goes on.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
Michelle Obama
Why did you become a journalist?
To tell stories and always learn new things.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A first-person essay about attending a Tony Robbins' seminar.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Always say yes. Opportunities truly appear for those who say yes.
When's the best time to pitch you?
3 to 5 p.m. My day is winding down and I like to respond to emails then.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Kangaroos in the workplace.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
"I would like to write for you." That was the entire email.
What's your favorite drink?
Cabernet Sauvignon
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Sand volleyball court
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Atlantic
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That it's not news. That personal development is fluffy and unnecessary. But developing soft skills is vital on so many levels.
