What was your first job as a journalist?
Freelance magazine and entertainment writing/photography
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. I don't think i'm cool enough to take one to a coffee shop though.
How is social media changing news?
Social media empowers us to connect with readers in a way never before possible. It also changes the way we approach deadlines.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Long hours, low pay and the privilege of making a quantifiable difference in your community.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
The funniest ones are usually the ones that some PR person forgot to check before adding it to marketing material
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Make me understand why it should bump something off of my list of "must do"
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Everything available. I'm always looking for new ways to enhance my storytelling and our user experience.
Why did you become a journalist?
I wanted to make a difference.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No. We did not have one. I did work for my college paper though.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I spent more than five years investigating the way a college was under reporting sexual assaults, which resulted in systemic changes.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
The deadline is always right now and all stories should be treated as if they're the front page centerpiece.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Weekday mornings
What's the best pitch you ever got?
"Would you like to come play with this baby lion?"
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I was once told to write about the Sewage Syndicate, that a reader accused me of being a part of, after reporting on a wastewater facility
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Running my nonprofit or finding new places to explore
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Houston Chronicle, WaPo, NYT, Variety and iO9 (I'm a bit of a nerd)
