Dave Rice
Verified
Covers:
San Diego. We're hyper-local, so if you have a strong local tie (especially if your story isn't already widely covered), I want to hear. If not, not so much...
Doesn't Cover:
Non-local news, promotional product placement, helping you get your verbatim advertorial published
Well that sucked - DaveSD at the other place
Interview
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I still have the old Smith-Corolla that I used to bang out stories when I was 5 or 6, and that sucker was old then.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
E-mail. Please understand what you're pitching and I'll be glad to respond with why it will or won't work for me.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I type using a computer (Smith Corolla ribbons are all dried up and its wifi is spotty at best). I also use a voice recorder and phone camera
Why did you become a journalist?
For a hyper-local blog (obrag.org, now sandiegofreepress.org) - it was fun. Current gig - someone offered to pay me to have fun.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The failure of generators at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station - intentional mistakes at the political, regulatory, and institional level
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Studying, hard work, and proper style got me nowhere. Dropping out of school and spouting off online got me a job. Actually, don't try this.
When's the best time to pitch you?
At least a week or so before you expect coverage - day or two for me to clear email, another couple to pitch my editors, plus reporting time
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.