What was your first job as a journalist?
I don't think an essay published in the Wildcat News in the early 1980s counts does it? In that case, the Lowcountry Blues club newsletter.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes.I used to type letters to friends on an old, heavy manual typewriter.
How is social media changing news?
Social media wins in speed.In-depth coverage is done well by older media, like Taibbi explaining the banking crash.Try tweeting that!
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Tess Harding.Polly Perkins.SNL's Weekend Update anchors. Zoe Barnes on House of Cards, most recently.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Sharing events is something anyone can do anymore. Journalists tell engaging stories, educate, & build community through their efforts.
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?
A MacBook Air.Pages.Gmail.The Internet.Google.Facebook.Twitter.Google+.LinkedIn.Old-fashioned curiosity, & love of language.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter. Also Pinterest & Linkedin.
Who do you wish followed you?
Just a few thousand more people.
Why did you become a journalist?
Writing comes naturally to me.Journalism is a way to do that for the public good in a public format.Being published is a rush.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, I did not.Hanahan High in the 1990s was far too small to sustain a school newspaper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
PetHelpers Spayghetti.When I was writing I was worried about the tone being positive; the event's purpose is funding spay/neuter efforts.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write daily. Hopefully you have skill and a dedicated interest in reporting & educating the public because this isn't a lucrative job field.
When's the best time to pitch you?
900am-5pm.
