What was your first job as a journalist?
Trainee reporter for Archant in East Devon. Rubbish company to work for but great people to work with.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Clark Kent. If I wear big enough glasses I can almost pull the look off. Apart from the rippling physique.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
aka aka
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email, unless it's urgent. In which case call.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter for news, Facebook for catching up with friends. Instagram if I fancy wasting time looking at pictures of food or dogs.
Why did you become a journalist?
It seemed a good idea at the time.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write as much as you can about the subjects that interest you, then pester editors until they agree to publish some of it. I did the fast track NCTJ which gave me the chance to get my first job in journalism on a local paper. I’d recommend that path to anyone.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time. Just get straight to the point, no need to go overboard with the pleasantries.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Anything that involves a pointless national awareness day invented by a PR agency.
What's your favorite drink?
Anything that comes served in a Jeroboam. Or better still a Methuselah.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Doesn't really count as a publication, but Wikipedia.
