What was your first job as a journalist?
University newspaper
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, I owned an expensive electronic typewriter that my mom gave me for my 8th birthday.
How is social media changing news?
It has shaken things up violently, and people need to be educated on how to effectively distinguish misinformation from legitimate reporting.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Ron Burgundy
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means to maintain the standards that have long been established in the face of digital media chaos.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I don't pay attention to hashtags, but it would be something that speaks to how ridiculous Twitter is.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
A laptop that is always on me, a decent camera, various recording devices.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
People who could add more to the conversation than what my puny contribution represents.
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I want to get the facts straight, and I'm unrealistic about how much money I can make doing something I love.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes, I covered everything I could find related to my university and how it was an important part of the community in Anchorage, Alaska.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I am proud to work on coverage of a major case for press freedom in Myanmar.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't let your personal opinions flavor the facts.
When's the best time to pitch you?
At the last minute when a story needs to be covered and nobody else is available.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I was asked to cover a major press freedom case for Myanmar with local media.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I was asked by my university if I wanted to record impromptu interviews with Alaskans and their impressions of Russia for RT.
What's your favorite drink?
Bourbon
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Walking around trying to find a story by meeting people.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Onion
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That most foreign reporters are risking their lives to cover countries like Myanmar and its neighbors.
