What was your first job as a journalist?
Staff writer at the Grunion Gazettes in Long Beach, Calif.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes.
How is social media changing news?
Everything happens at a quicker rate; subjects are more easily found, though false news can spread rapidly.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To look beyond the obvious and dig behind the quotes.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I want to know the background and what makes it compelling to the author.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Multiple CMS including Wordpress and Drupal, handheld recording devices, Photoshop.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter.
Who do you wish followed you?
Ann Friedman
Why did you become a journalist?
When I meet someone new or see something interesting, my first inclination is to learn more and write about it. Writing occupies my brain.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, I wrote for my college paper though! And I wrote my own zine in high school.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Find your niche but write for as many beats as you can.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Morning.
