What was your first job as a journalist?
News Assistant for the Daily Pilot in Costa Mesa. The Daily Pilot is a community newspaper owned by the Los Angeles Times.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
News has become a conversation - the audience is engaged, immediate, and willing to do some of the work.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Kent Brockman
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Someone who endeavors to use their skills, story-telling and truth to have an impact on the world.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
No idea
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
To the point via email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Tableau, tweetdeck, Google maps, TABULA, DocumentCloud, timeline.js, ScribbeLive, Saxotech, Storify, Spundge and more
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
Media columnists and writers
Why did you become a journalist?
To do something that mattered that I was also good at.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Editor-in-chief. But mostly I just fought with my adviser/teacher.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Coverage of the San Gabriel Council of Governments including conflict of interest charges against its executive director.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Become a public records act expert and learn to code.
When's the best time to pitch you?
After 3 p.m.
