David Sarokin
New Jersey
Covers:
Business, law, science, regulations, genealogy and family history, environment, public policy, social justice, employer and employee issues.
Doesn't Cover:
Self help, fashion, celebrities
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Writing for an environmental newsletter in southern California
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yep...I'm that old
How is social media changing news?
Multiplying sources, stepping up the pace, focusing on clickable/click-bait headlines, accelerating tribalism
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Clark Gable in a movie the name of which I do not recall
What does it mean to be a journalist?
I don't have an answer for this...sorry
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
none that come to mind
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
It's been many years since I've been pitched...not sure I have a meaningful perspective
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Runningmate, Gemini (and other AI), finely honed research skills
What's your favorite social network?
facebook
Who do you wish followed you?
AOC
Why did you become a journalist?
I've written a lot of content because it was in me and had to come out...op-eds, journal articles, etc. I'm not really a journalist though
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
nope
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I wrote two big environmental op-ed pieces, one in the Washington Post (when it was respectable) and one for the NY Times
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Sorry, but I have nothing to offer other than a hearty "Good Luck"
When's the best time to pitch you?
24/7 by email
What's the best pitch you ever got?
not relevant to my experience
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
not relevant to my experience
What's your favorite drink?
H20
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
playing pickleball
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I love a good escapist novel now and then, but mostly I'm cruising a few dozen online sources of news and opinions
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That it's all about the Governor's race...! Congressional midterms are heating up and need more coverage
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.