What was your first job as a journalist?
Reporter for the News-Record of Maplewood and South Orange, NJ.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes.
How is social media changing news?
No rules.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Ted Baxter
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Today? I’m not sure what it means. But it should mean the ability to respect and report on both sides of the argument.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Don’t know.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
email
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Mac book, word, and InDesign, primarily. Plus usual social media feeds.
What's your favorite social network?
I use Twitter the most, but I don’t call any a favorite. We are a print publication, first and foremost.
Who do you wish followed you?
People in the shoe industry—that means were are writing what they want to read.
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I hated/stunk at math! And I like telling a good story...
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, a bit in college.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Some of the obits I’ve done on industry figures—people I knew personally.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write as much as you can. String for a local paper, which is how I got my start. Thrown into the fire of small-town politics you learn fast.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time, so long as it’s relevant to our magazine.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Waiting...
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Too many. Did they even glance at the magazine before pitching?
What's your favorite drink?
Diet Peach Snapple.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Bike riding
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
New York magazine.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That it‘s all about the shoes. It is, but the people behind the designs and the brands bring it all to life. They are the real story.
