Media + Social Change
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first job was at the Business and Financial Times in Ghana. That's where it all started. It grounded me in the discipline of journalism early and gave me a front row seat to how business and economics shape people's lives. Everything I've done since traces back to that newsroom.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, briefly. My sister used one at her workplace and I got my hands on it for practice. It was actually my first time ever seeing one up close. There's something about the resistance of those keys and the sound of each letter hitting the page that makes you choose your words more carefully. In a weird way, it was a great introduction to the craft.
How is social media changing news?
It's democratizing who gets to break the story and that's both exciting and terrifying. Social media has given voice to communities that legacy media ignored for decades, and that's genuinely powerful. But it's also collapsed the space between information and opinion, between witness and journalist. The challenge now isn't access to news, it's discernment. As someone who works at the intersection of media, culture, and community, I think the real opportunity is using social platforms to go deeper not just faster. Speed is a commodity. Context and trust are not.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I genuinely don't have one. I've always been more drawn to real journalists and real stories. Fiction has never quite captured what actually drives someone to chase the truth for a living.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Telling truth. That's it. Everything else is noise
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#TheDress — the whole world stopped to argue about whether a dress was blue/black or white/gold. Absurd and perfect.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Keep it human and keep it relevant. I'm drawn to stories at the intersection of culture, community, and real-world impact so if your pitch connects to people's lives in a meaningful way, you already have my attention. Email is best. Lead with the 'so what' in the first two sentences, skip the jargon, and tell me why this story matters right now. Bonus points if there's a strong character at the center of it.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Nothing fancy. My most important tool is visibility. Making sure my contact information is accessible across the right platforms so PR pros and editors can find me and pitch me directly. The best stories come to you when you've built the right presence. Beyond that, good instincts and a strong network do most of the heavy lifting.
What's your favorite social network?
X. It's still the best place for real time conversation and unfiltered perspective. Nothing moves culture faster.
Who do you wish followed you?
No one specific. My goal is simply to be followed by whoever I'm about to write about. If my subject is already in my audience, the conversation starts before the story does.
Why did you become a journalist?
Honestly? It chose me more than I chose it. I've always loved to read and write and it came naturally. But what sealed it was realizing that storytelling isn't just a craft, it's a tool. The right story, told well, can shift a perspective, move resources, or make someone feel seen for the first time. That realization turned a personal passion into a sense of purpose. I didn't just want to write. I wanted my writing to matter.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No high school newspaper for me. But I did have a dedicated column in a popular newspaper in Ghana covering startups and finance. It grew popular enough that I continued writing for them through university. Looking back, it was one of the most formative opportunities of my career. It taught me early that good writing builds its own momentum
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My debut mainstream entertainment piece covering SXSW 2026. I wrote about the big names who showed up including Dwyane Wade, Serena Williams, and Keke Palmer. I was a little nervous stepping into entertainment territory for the first time but it came together well. Meeting those personalities in person and translating that energy into a story was a reminder of why I love this work.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't chase a title, chase alignment. Invest time in what genuinely makes you happy. A career in journalism shouldn't be about ticking a box or following a predetermined path. It should feel like a natural extension of who you are. When your work aligns with your passion, the discipline takes care of itself.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mornings. That's when I'm freshest and most receptive. A good pitch in the morning can set the tone for the whole day
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I met someone at an event once. Brief introductions, then in under ten seconds he pitched his business clean, confident, no fluff. Then he said, 'When you write the post-event review, I know our story will be of resource.' That was it. I was sold instantly. No lengthy email, no press kit, no follow-up sequence. He read the room, respected my time, and showed he already understood what I needed before I did. The best pitches don't feel like pitches.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Any pitch that leads with self promotion. If your opening line is about how great your company or client is, you've already lost me. I'm looking for the human story underneath, the impact, the why it matters. Ego is not a story.
What's your favorite drink?
Virgin Mojito. Always.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In a room full of people. I believe the best stories live in real human connection, not on a screen. You'll find me at a community event, a live show, or somewhere in Austin where culture and conversation are happening. That's where the ideas come from.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Austin Chronicle. It strikes a balance between cultural depth and community relevance that I genuinely admire. It reminds me why local journalism still matters.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That it's either gossip or a sales pitch. Culture coverage gets dismissed as fluff and business coverage gets mistaken for advertorial content. But the most compelling stories live exactly at that intersection. Culture shapes economies. Business shapes communities. When you cover both honestly, you're actually telling the most important human stories there are.
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