Ian Kayanja
Verified
(He/Him)
- Mavericks Writer, A to Z Sports Dallas
- Teaching Assistant, University of North Texas
- Digital Content Producer, WCIV-TV (Mount Pleasant, SC)
Charleston
As seen in:
A to Z Sports Dallas,
WCIV-TV (Mount Pleasant, SC),
Apple Podcasts,
Medium,
MSN,
Sports Illustrated,
Spreaker,
KOMO-TV (Seattle, WA),
D Magazine,
WJLA-TV (Arlington, VA),
NewsBreak,
WPEC-TV (West Palm Beach, FL)
and
Covers:
Politics, Sports, Entertainment, Publishing
Writer. "Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in the face of certain defeat." -Ralph Ellison
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Working as a freelancer for The Dallas Morning News covering high school football
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
It is making it instant. Everything you want is at your fingertips. It's forcing journalists to change how we tell stories.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I don't have one.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
to tell good stories that matter.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I don't keep up with many hashtags.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Full length pitch.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Otter and Google docs
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook or Substack
Who do you wish followed you?
Marcus Thompson.
Why did you become a journalist?
I love to write. I escape in the story. It is more comforting that way.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes, in Dayton, Ohio.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A baseball tory about a sandlot baseball league.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep writing.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mornings.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
An artist opened a new exhibit. The artist's exhibit was Backward Forward.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I don't remember
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I like to walk. It is comforting.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The New York Times
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I don't think there is ever a misconception. When I write about arts and entertainment or sports, people tend to think of it as not serious
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.