Gary West
Hermiston, Salem
Newspaper and online journalist, copy editor. Former photojournalist, now a photo hobbyist. Proud father. On Threads @glwest17 #BeaverNation #GoBeavs
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Photojournalist for the Herald and News in Klamath Falls, Ore.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, I took a typing class in high school and used one in college. So glad I took the class. Didn't realize how much I would use that skill.
How is social media changing news?
It is the new wire service, but it's interactive. It has changed the speed at which news travels.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
A journalist tells stories that need to be told accurately, fairly and as completely as possible.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I'm not the right person to pitch. My team works on the stories and photos after they are written. But email was my prefered method.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Why did you become a journalist?
I fell in love with photography plus I always want to know what's going on and why things happen as they do.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I didn't work for my high school paper. I worked on the yearbook instead. It had a photo darkroom. Worked at my college newspaper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Perhaps an enterprise piece I supervised about lack of diversity in leadership role in cities that were overwhelmingly minority population.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't do it. If you ignore the advice because you have a passion for it, then you may have what it takes to succeed. Then keep digging.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Again, I am not the right person to pitch, but I generally work 8:30 to 5:30 Pacific time, Monday through Friday.
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