John Kraft
As seen in:
RealClear Policy,
Chicago City Wire,
Edgar County Watchdogs,
Prairie State Wire,
Kankakee Times,
South Cook News,
Sangamon Sun,
Will County Gazette,
Metro East Sun,
The Southland Journal
and
Covers:
Local and State Government
Call or Text our Tip Line @ (312) 566-8078. the ECWd are a local government accountability and news organization.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
The one I have now.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
Makes traditional media work harder and smarter
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Speak the truth, no matter where it takes you.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Don't really pay attention to hashtags
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email or in person
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
vMix, MS Office, Wordpress, Adobe Video Suite, Dropbox, DocumentCloud
What's your favorite social network?
Youtube
Who do you wish followed you?
Everyone
Why did you become a journalist?
The need for the public to be informed
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Writing about a State Prisoner Review Board Member's racist comments at his prior job as Deputy Sheriff, then writing about his termination.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Speak the truth, provide the documents.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Proof of a State Prisoner Review Board Member making racists comments at his prior job as a Deputy Sheriff.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Ones that provide no proof of their position
What's your favorite drink?
Tea
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At a public meeting
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Decisions from the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That public officials always act in the best interest of the public.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.