Greg Brooks
Carson City, East Coast United States
I write the thing before you quote the thing. Policy, narrative systems, reach, and clarity on demand. Quiet operator, loud results.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Copy editor for weekend sports at a mid-sized daily. I knew *nothing* about sports, but I knew about headlines and layout.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Hell, I've used a goddamned Linotype machine.
How is social media changing news?
Everyone's got a megaphone and no one's got any accountability -- and yes, that includes a lot of top-tier media.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Kolchak -- the Night Stalker. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolchak:_The_Night_Stalker
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Not what it used to mean. And that's OK.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
E-mail.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
The NRA's head of comms -- they're doing a lot of interesting and long-term smart things at a time when everyone thinks they're blowing it.
Why did you become a journalist?
I originally wanted to be a professional photographer and wrote pithy notes with my shots. Someone suggested I might be better at writing.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Wrote a column and shot photos. Lobbied to run the damned thing, but conv. wisdom said running the yearbook should be enough for my ego.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
You want to save the world? Become a missionary. You want to report the truth even when the truth hurts or offends? Yeah, this is the job.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.