What was your first job as a journalist?
Editor of the Portage Press, a weekly newspaper that folded.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. I learned to type on one and had one in college.
How is social media changing news?
Fewer people are reading stories. They're reading headlines, figure they understand all the nuances, and comment immediately.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Lou Grant
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being a journalist is a calling, like being a minister. It's lousy pay and lousy working conditions, but great job satisfaction.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I use my trusty MacBook Pro, my iPhone (and especially its camera), Word, Excel and Safari. I'm frequently scouring the web for contact info.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
George Clooney, only because we have something in common.
Why did you become a journalist?
The Watergate scandal showed how important journalists are in uncovering misdeeds. Along the way, I discovered I enjoy telling stories.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Editor
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I interviewed Korean War veterans for a series of stories about Northwest Indiana veterans of that war. All of the veterans were memorable.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep your eyes open for related career opportunities. You're not likely to retire as a journalist.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mornings, between 9 a.m. and noon. But by email, please.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Want to fly with us in a World War 2 bomber, the last of its kind still flying?
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
The worst pitch assumes I can drop everything and immediately cover something that day. Give me time to adjust my schedule.
What's your favorite drink?
Iced tea
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Outside taking photos
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
New York Times and Washington Post
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
People often think my personal views influence what I write. Not true. I'm reporting, not advocating.
