What was your first job as a journalist?
A ski report newsletter with an odd collection of useful information, weather, and mountain insider gossip!
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Absolutely. I owned an indestructible blue Selectric. It cost more than an iPad Air does now. It's probably still in use somewhere.
How is social media changing news?
That's an essay question! But it actually shouldn't change news, it should change how people use news.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Maggie on The Newsroom, currently. Still partial to Lois Lane and Clark Kent, though.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
I call it being a professional storyteller...with strings attached. The strings are responsibility and accountability and credibility.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
many tweets were priceless and timeless
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Definitely by email, but I do like to get things in the mail, especially if they are visual or have lots of details, such as info on an event
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, iPad and iPhone for hardware; Adobe Creative Suite, iWork, Google Drive, Evernote, and what seem like a million apps!
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter, by far.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I was a reporter, and worked my way up to editor by hanging around and figuring out what the editors did.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write every day, learn to write about subjects unfamiliar to you, learn to self-edit, expand your vocab, read great writing, don't read junk!
When's the best time to pitch you?
Very early in the morning, or late at night so I can read it early in the morning!
What's your favorite drink?
Hot chocolate with marshmallows on a cold winter night or gin and tonic with lime on a hot summer evening.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
First: I only write about equine lameness. Wrong! I cover all aspects of horses and sports. Second: Equestrianism is elitist. Also wrong!
