What was your first job as a journalist?
My high school newspaper. Some wouldn't consider it a job, but while there I broke my first national story. That got me other jobs.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. When I was a child. Also, thinking about getting one. I wonder if the tool's requisite for deliberate writing is a burden or a gift.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Al Pacino's rendition of Lowell Bergman in "The Insider." So I guess that's half fictional.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means you devote yourself to the truth, to the public and the craft. Some call it an ideology - a calling - but it might be an affliction.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Not because of the hashtag itself but because this aggregates all of Florida's weirdness.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I prefer to the do the pitching. Usually the best ideas come from the reporters' passion.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Investigative reporting techniques learned from nearly a decade of belonging to IRE, from mentors and a good amount of stumbling into stuff above my pay grade; video production and editing, government beat reporting, narrative writing/creative nonfiction; I am proficient in Excel, Access, SQL (Thanks again, IRE); I've done broadcast writing in a major market and have on camera TV experience; I occasionally and seamlessly report on courts, business, education and trends; I'm comfortable and speedy with desktop publishing, blog management and copy editing; I am frequently tapped to pick up weekend/holiday editing roles and to help edit some narrative and watchdog stories; I understand and exploit the joys of Florida's Sunshine Law and, of course, FOIA; I have limited experience in PHP, HTML, DSLR photography, InDesign and Photoshop.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook.com
Who do you wish followed you?
Gene Weingarten.
Why did you become a journalist?
I've always loved writing and learning and have had a slight problem with authority. It was/is a natural fit for me.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Darn. I guess I already answered this question. I'll add that I was a reporter then editorials editor. They also made us sell ads.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
"The Stolen Ones," which also happens to be my latest. It's a narrative about child sex trafficking and how society has failed victims.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't work for free and don't be afraid to sound stupid in an interview. That's how you learn stuff.
When's the best time to pitch you?
In the morning, before 10 a.m., after my first cup of coffee.
