What was your first job as a journalist?
My first job as a journalist was as a junior reporter for a local magazine.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No, but I'd love to.
How is social media changing news?
It's much more instantaneous and I, for one, prefer the fact that you can get short snippets of the news when it breaks before reading more .
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Everything. It's my livelihood. You have to take the rough with the smooth and ultimately have the thickest skin possible.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Office, TweetDeck, Twitter and, most importantly, my contacts.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I had a massive passion for writing from a young age.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
There wasn't a high school newspaper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
There have been many stories I've worked on or published, been slammed for and then turned out to be right.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep your head down, work hard and build up a contacts book.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Whenever. I'm available constantly.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
There have been many.
What's your favorite drink?
Jack Daniel's.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Still in my office, on the phone and getting story tips from contacts.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I love reading the broadsheet dailies.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That our job is easy. Nobody sees the hard work we have to put in to do our job, they just see the end product.
