What was your first job as a journalist?
I worked for a long-extinct publication called New York WomansWeek and a neighborhood weekly called Our Town.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
yup
How is social media changing news?
Social media gives news even more immediacy than the 24-hour cable presence. It also uncovers more rumor, gossip innuendo, and "fake" news.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Truman Capote
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Journalists must operate in a pristine zone of honesty. Your only obligation is to your readers. You must gain and keep their trust.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Word, Apple TextEdit, Adobe Photoshop, Apple Photos plus tons of software and hardware as part of my assignments.
Why did you become a journalist?
I wanted to print the news and raise hell; comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Animal rights reporting for the Earth Island Journal and my radio programs on KUSF and San Francisco Liberation Radio.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Always work with integrity. Never allow friendships, favors, or flattery to influence what you write. Ask questions and do your research.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime, by email. If you have upcoming news, then give a heads up as early as possible.
What's your favorite drink?
Vodka and lime
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Outdoors hiking or on the couch reading.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That tech reporters are in it for free stuff. Many PR people believe we obsess over gadgets. We don't. This is part of our job.
