Gabrielle E. Guz
New York
Covers:
Local News, Arts and Entertainment, Business, Technology, U.S. Politics
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Interning for the New York Times' metro desk as a pre-college student
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No, but I know that I'd be obsessed with it if I get it and start using it.
How is social media changing news?
While it makes news more accessible, it also has supplanted serious news with "what's trending." People are more likely to scan than to read.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Well, my favorite film that comments on journalism and literature is Fellini's "La Dolce Vita." Marcello Rubini is a fascinating character.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means learning how to listen, analyze, and engage.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Have yet to find the funniest one, I guess. The #hashtag world is much too concentrated to filter through for a precisely "funny" one.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I am open to any creative ways. I am open-minded.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Computers, call recorders, digital conference tools, Open-Source Content Management Systems (CMS).
What's your favorite social network?
Too many to choose from, right? But I would say Instagram. In my view, it's the most user-friendly with its various engagement features.
Who do you wish followed you?
Barbara Walters, Bari Weiss, Gayle King, Harris Faulkner, Noah Tishby, Oprah Winfrey, Shira Haas, and Lady Gaga, and Mariska Hargitay
Why did you become a journalist?
My experience with grief made me passionate about journalism. I learned how to listen to and not "move on" from difficult conversations.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I was the editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I appreciate the learning process that each piece offers me, especially when I get to interview all of my sources first-hand.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Fall in love with the process, not only the fully polished, final product. You get better mainly from your drafts and revisions.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime. Literally. Just like inspiration, pitches can come at any time.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I have to think on this. Maybe I've yet to receive the best pitch. But what do you mean by "best"? How do you determine what's "best"?
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
There's no such thing as a bad pitch (underdeveloped, maybe), just like there is no such thing as a "bad" question.
What's your favorite drink?
Tearrific Cacao Tea (with milk!) from Exquisito Chocolates.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Deep in my thoughts.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
100 Word Story
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
As I am a student journalist still, I don't have a beat that's set in stone. I am tapping into many areas and exploring.
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