What was your first job as a journalist?
Viva the Matadors for 50 bucks a month.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. I immediately exploded in shame at my own self-importance.
How is social media changing news?
It's making it so that being first is more important than being right. Even those that prefer being right are feeling the pressure to do more
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Clark Kent for a serious answer, Ron Burgundy for an unserious answer.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Seek the truth, unwaveringly.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Hashtags aren't funny
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Very carefully. Just kidding, fire away the emails. Unlike a couple of colleagues, email clutter doesn't bother me, I clear it quickly.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Otter.ai
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter.
Who do you wish followed you?
I wish no one followed me, I like to use social media for making jokes and sports, and my work platforms for work.
Why did you become a journalist?
I like jobs with a mission.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Nope.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The Softgiving story, or my work on Saudi Arabia's esports ambitions for SBJ.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Work hard, be flexible, learn new media platforms.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Afternoon
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Probably some obscure NFT game that was never going to be made and I'd never cover in a million years.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
There are so many.
What's your favorite drink?
Water, black coffee, Lone Star or Miller Lite. I'm a simple man.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Working out, at a bar, watching a movie with my wife.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Split Zone Duo newsletters, or just listening to the podcast.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That it can be done by anyone. It takes a long time to become versed in one culture, much less the many game-by-game cultures in esports.
