What was your first job as a journalist?
Writing 100-word stories for my family newsletter, The Travel 100.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes.
How is social media changing news?
Social media has accentuated the need for an attention-grabbing title. The line between "compelling" and "clickbait" can be narrow.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Carrie Bradshaw. She doesn't lecture or exude self-importance in her writing - she asks questions to challenge the reader's way of thinking.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
A journalist is someone who can fairly, effectively and succinctly explain something to someone.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
, which points out hilarious misspellings of common words or phrases. E.g. "the least knobby dot" instead of Feliz Navidad.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Via email: chb707@gmail.com
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Google Drive is #1, also Docusign, Otter for interviews, and my Nespresso machine for late nights
What's your favorite social network?
Reddit. I've used it to find interview contacts, niche advice, story ideas and more.
Who do you wish followed you?
John Cena, so I could turn around and give him some of my bags to carry.
Why did you become a journalist?
I had superb English teachers in high school and a journalist Mom who I admire as much as I love.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes. I had a regular column called "Heard from a Nerd" where I reviewed video games.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Not a "story," per se, but to combat my depression and anxiety I published The Millennial's Guide to Making Happiness at age 26.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Try to read and write every day - even for free - to keep those muscles in shape. Reddit and Amazon are great places to practice writing.
When's the best time to pitch you?
No specific time, but I'm slower to respond on weekends.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Not a pitch, per se, but I was highly impressed by a recent press trip to Lubbock, TX, that highlighted what made Lubbock truly unique.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I've been pitched numerous crypto businesses that were clearly scams. Thankfully my editors agreed.
What's your favorite drink?
Daytime: LaCroix plum. Nighttime: LaPhroiag 10-year.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In the kitchen making my 3rd espresso of the day.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Excluding my own clients - Jalopnik, N4G, The Week, WSJ, Autoblog
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Travel writing is free vacations. Yes, press trips are fun - but you're also taking tons of notes so you can do a compelling write-up later.
