What was your first job as a journalist?
Junior soccer reports for the Evening Herald.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No but I did use an old school word processor
How is social media changing news?
It's adding both detail and noise. It's forcing those of us who report to not only change how we report but to also think about the different expectations from the target consumer, there should always be one in your head, based on the channel you are using
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Sarah-Jane Smith
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Beats the hell out of working.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Directly and exclusively. Phone if it merits it, email otherwise
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Heavy use of G Suite across the board, also Smart Voice Recorder, taxi apps, and noise cancelling headphones
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter but Instagram is catching up.
Who do you wish followed you?
Jon Bois
Why did you become a journalist?
Seemed like a good idea at the time
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, we didn't have one but I started on my college one quite quickly.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My first Tactics not Passion column.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't forget to switch off.
When's the best time to pitch you?
11am
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Well someone literally showed me how their product work as a way of explaining where their company was located. That was fantastic.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Too many to count where the pitch was what their client wanted rather than what was necessary for me to care.
What's your favorite drink?
Viet Now IPA by Trouble Brewing
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Walking.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Tough one but I'm a big fan of what The Athletic are doing.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Oooh good one. That Friday is always my worst day because I work for a Sunday. Internal schedules and deadlines are far more complex than that.
