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Elizabeth Birdthistle on Muck Rack

Elizabeth Birdthistle

Verified
Covers:  , travel, property, food and anything I find interesting
Doesn't Cover: Astrology Accountancy
Contributor to The Irish Times, lover of all things maritime, music, mycology and Mayo

Interview

What was your first job as a journalist?

to write about the trials and tribulations of my garden and it's creation

Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes. Is this a way to gauge my age? I learnt to type on one

Who's your favorite fictional journalist?

aa Gill does both and I love his acerbic wit. Also Hillary Fannin

What does it mean to be a journalist?

I can write in bed, or in front of a raging fire while the wind howls outside and thank God for spell check

What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?

I can't remember through all the mundane rubbish I've had to sift through

How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?

email

What tools and software do you use to do your job?

Wellies and my laptop in Leenane toolbox and laptop in Dublin

What's your favorite social network?

Hamilton's Bar in Leenane

Who do you wish followed you?

Maybe someone with a larger gluteus maximus

Why did you become a journalist?

Completely by accident. It wasn't planned at all - a bit like my entire lifes' work so far. I seem to stumble into interesting potholes

Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?

We didn't have a newspaper; not even published daily's I was locked up in a castle for 6 years and saw more leaves from trees than papers!

What story are you most proud of writing or working on?

The day I caught squid. Of course the bloody Octopus got away - my editor had to make sure I wasn't joking. I wasn't the sea was full of them

What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?

I wouldn't want to risk that

When's the best time to pitch you?

Wednesday mornings

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