David Troy
Verified
As seen in:
Apple Podcasts,
Elemental,
Medium,
Metro (UK),
TED,
Technical.ly,
Byline Times,
The Washington Spectator
Covers:
Geopolitics, history, geo-economics, technology, information warfare, social phenomena, culture.
Doesn't Cover:
Political horse races.
Publisher & Editor, America 2.0 • Writer, Washington Spectator • Spy tracker • Curator, @TEDxMidAtlantic • Tips? Signal: davetroy.69
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I started writing a monthly technology column called "Myths and Mysteries" for a magazine called Current Notes in about 1990.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Oh, mos' def. Starting at about age 4.
How is social media changing news?
It's being used as an instrument to shape our social topology, so news is changing to reflect that purpose, unfortunately.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To retain humility, curiosity, and honesty in all aspects of the work — especially speaking as a lay-person sojourner in the field.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I have a large backlog of work so seldom accept pitches, but I really appreciate information, leads, and insights on the topics I follow.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I do a lot of network analysis and media mining, using custom and open source software, to track topics and people.
What's your favorite social network?
All of the commercial options are captured by autocrats. I operate toad.social (a Mastodon site), which is at least open.
Why did you become a journalist?
I feel a duty to tell stories that need to be told, and for which I have specific and unique skillsets.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
"Paranoia on Parade" is the culmination of several years worth of research and is an evergreen guide to our current predicaments.
What's your favorite drink?
I'm partial to a dry martini with a lemon twist, or olives.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At home cooking, or at the gym, on a bike. Or maybe traveling, or speaking at a conference.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I enjoy articles and blogs of many colleagues and smart analysts. Not sure I can cite a specific publication.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
We've spent too much time talking about "disinformation" when we should have been framing it around geopolitics and information warfare.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
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