Craig Patterson
Verified
(He/Him)
As seen in:
Retail-Insider,
Apple Podcasts,
Bandcamp Daily,
American Chemical Society,
The Voice of Retail,
Business in Vancouver (BIV),
Exabeam,
Todayville,
Optical Prism,
Retail Insider,
Canadian Jeweller
Covers:
Canadian retail news, for the most part. For products/services that assist retailers, we may request that they be run as sponsored content.
Doesn't Cover:
Non-Canadian content and that not generally in-line with our reporting mandate (which is broad depending on pitch)
www.retail-insider.com
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My own publication, remarkably.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
We pay a few $/day on Facebook/Instagram to beat algorithms. We use it to get the word out.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
I'm not the best person to ask. I accept expensive gifts, trips, meals and I encourage sponsored content.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email -- and only relevant topics if possible. I'll call out anyone forwarding irrelevant pitches.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook... but really it should be LinkedIn.
Who do you wish followed you?
A puppy. Except I don't have one. Sometimes I wish I did.
Why did you become a journalist?
I fell into it as a 'blogger' and I now own the business. We discovered a niche and have aggressively pursued it.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Nope, never had experience until I started a blog in 2012.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Good luck -- it's a tough industry and many are losing jobs. Fortunately I own my company (and I treat my people well, or at least I try).
When's the best time to pitch you?
Try me whenever. I'm always exhausted.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
We've had many -- if it's a retailer expanding in Canada, we're on it.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Someone suggested we write about seniors' homes in Arizona. We're a Canadian retail publication. Do your homework!!!
What's your favorite drink?
Tea, coffee, water.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Washroom, gym, meeting, social event, shopping.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
WWD.com
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That our coverage extends beyond Canada.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.