What was your first job as a journalist?
Distribution manager at my college paper.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I learned to type on an old Royal. It was puke green.
How is social media changing news?
Social media allows us to break news quickly, but can often undercut the editing process. We need to be embrace it carefully going forward.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Henry Hackett
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It's a craft about spreading information and keeping the world honest. Exposing untold stories and helping people by informing them.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Don't tell me "You have to cover this story, this is BIG," or that you have something that no one else knows about. Just tell me the story.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Everything. Word, Excel, Google Fusion Tables, GPS, Blox, Bit.ly, a gazillion databases.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Why did you become a journalist?
I wanted to do something that was intellectual and I felt did some good in the world. Hopefully, I'm succeeding.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
We didn't have one.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I've spent a good part of the last year following the ongoing labor dispute between migrant workers and a local farm in Skagit County.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
If you don't love what you're doing, then you shouldn't be doing it. This is not a craft to take lightly. Your work matters.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime. Who sleeps?
