What was your first job as a journalist?
I was the staff writer at a science newswire called Technology Research News (www.trnmag.com/)
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Currently: Will McAvoy from the tv show The Newsroom
What does it mean to be a journalist?
A conduit for the stories that people cannot voice themselves; a catalyst for change and growth for the reader/listener.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Google Docs & MS Word, Hindenburg, Audacity, two Zoom audio records, mics, notebook, pencil, pen, and an Android phone with camera
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
the folks at Gimlet Media
Why did you become a journalist?
I'm nosy! Seriously, because I love telling people's stories and surprisingly, people do talk to me. I think it's a noble job.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes, general profiles and copy editing.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Record your interviews, don't interrupt people unless they're wildly rambling, take photos in landscape mode, do your homework!
When's the best time to pitch you?
Definitely not on a Monday. Ideally, Tuesday or Wednesday morning.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
A development story about addressing hunger and nutrition that included geographically relevant information that I could use to pitch it on
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I ignore product pitches, but recently someone pitched me a conference of talking heads, with no possibility of field reports
What's your favorite drink?
An old-fashioned
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
With friends - the location varies.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Guardian
