What was your first job as a journalist?
Police reporter
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Absolutely!
How is social media changing news?
Many journalists are often reporting news on social media instead of writing about it for their own publications.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Ron Burgundy
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
WordPress, Google Analytics and TextEdit
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
That's something that isn't important to me. Work hard, and those who follow you will follow.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I was the Entertainment Editor for my high school newspaper back in the 80s.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Find a niche to focus on that you're passionate about, and then strive to become the expert in that area.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mornings (Eastern Time).
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Too many to name, but PR pitches that are trying to sell a product particular annoy me. Those, to me, should really be paid advertising.
What's your favorite drink?
Starbucks Chai Tea
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Watching my kids play travel soccer
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Guardian
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Some of the public think that everything is clickbait even if articles have zero clickbait elements.
