Ebony Williams
(She/Her)
As seen in:
BASIC Magazine,
Chicago Tribune,
SFGate,
Stuff.co.nz,
The Indiegogo Review,
Flipboard,
The Mercury News,
The Minnesota Star Tribune,
The Seattle Times,
Heavy,
Miami Herald
and
Covers:
Entertainment
Lifestyle
Sports
Doesn't Cover:
Politics
Crime
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I was a weather girl and assistant news editor at FOX 4 News KTBY TV in Anchorage, Alaska - I was 18-years-old.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I have and I had my trusty, smelly, whiteout bottle next to it.
How is social media changing news?
Social media is making news quicker, which can lead to more mistakes and click bait.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Mary Jane Paul played by Gabrielle Union on the hit show "Being Mary Jane."
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To me, being a journalist means being open and real no matter the outcome.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
only in Florida
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I don't mind daily pitches, as long as the one pitching is okay with a 1-3 day turn around time.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Grammarly, Google, and other legitimate resource tools. If I'm editing video, Adobe and audio editing WonderShare.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
Mikki Taylor from ESSENCE
Why did you become a journalist?
I became a journalist because of the need to report the truth from the lens of under represented communities.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I didn't work for my high school newspaper, I was swamped with being captain of my track
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I'm most proud of interviewing Thando Hopa, a South African model, activist, and lawyer for BASIC Magazine.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't be afraid to fail because it leaves room for growth. Trust your intuition, and try not to be sensitive about critics.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mon-Fri from 8am-5pm est and Sat-Sun 9a-3p EST.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I can't think of a better person to tell my story other than you...
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Dicks! You either hate them, love them, or want one.
What's your favorite drink?
Water.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At the gym, on a hiking trail, taking advantage of cheap Tuesday movie nights or cooking.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Vogue, Rolling Stone, National Geographic, CNN to name a few.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That I'm strictly entertainment. I spent the first five years of my career as hard hitting investigative reporter.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.