What was your first job as a journalist?
Reporter for WRPW in Bloomington, IL
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Learned to type on a typewriter.
How is social media changing news?
SM is opening the door for a lot of people previously shunned by "traditional media" to do some good stuff. More competition.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
John Stewart.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Simultaneous disdain and dependency from the public. Responsibility to put bias aside and give the facts.
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?
Camera, Editing bay (Adobe Premiere Pro CC), Laptop, Google docs.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook for the analytics.
Who do you wish followed you?
My wife.
Why did you become a journalist?
Someone told me I have a great voice and should be on TV. I stayed because I love the challenge.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
My small, rural school had student bodies smaller than most newsrooms.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A wonderful feature about the '85 Bears for Comcast SportsNet.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
One of the most valuable pieces of advice I was given in my time as a college student was to learn the skills that aren't sexy.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Late at night.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I guess I've never gotten one that stands out.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
"Do a story about how poor I am. Maybe I'll get kickstarted."
What's your favorite drink?
2008 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cab.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Hauling a kid around.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Wall Street Journal. Great multimedia integration.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Everyone's rooting for one side or the other.
