Have you ever used a typewriter?
Only as a kid.
How is social media changing news?
In every way possible, from delivery all the way through to receipt. For instance, a Reddit user who worked for Oculus (unwittingly) revealed the merger deal months before the announcement. Most breaking news stories now are shared first on Twitter before a verified story is published, and while that means that there are a lot of hoaxes and misinformation at the beginning of an event, it’s also far more immediate than we’ve ever been used to.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email, always.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Working for Engadget requires you to create perfect words and pictures. For writing, I use Pages ’09 (OS X) because the old-school menus and layout are perfectly suited to my working environment and when I need to, I can use the Write Room-style feature to tune out the desktop. For image editing, I use Photoshop CS6, and more than frequently I’ll be editing crazy pictures to add to my stories.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Take your ego, stuff it in a rucksack filled with stones and dump it in the nearest river. You will suffer more knock-backs and humblings than you care to recall. All of them, however, make you better at your job. It hurts when you’re learning, but you will become better at the end of it.
When's the best time to pitch you?
A week before you make your public announcement.
