What was your first job as a journalist?
Writing about traveling through Malaysia.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I have used a typewriter, but not for any published material. It was broken and neglected, but fun to bash the keys and change the ribbon.
How is social media changing news?
Social media adds to content available to casual viewers. It hasn't changed news specifically because a good news story comes with research.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Graham Greene's Thomas Fowler, or Hunter S. Thompson's alter ego Raoul Duke.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
The ability to connect with people and tell their stories while upholding their integrity and improving your reputation.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
because it's possibly the most over-used phrased since the Reagan administration, like a broken record player.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Get in touch. We'll take it from there.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
It's important to diversify your tools. Microsoft Office is integral. But, photo editing, video editing and web building software is crucial.
What's your favorite social network?
I don't have a favourite. I see them as necessary evils. But, I don't think any one is doing enough to protect users and use their power.
Who do you wish followed you?
I respect publications like National Geographic, that combine excellent writing with sensitive photojournalism.
Why did you become a journalist?
It's the only vocation with enough freedom and adventure for a curious mind.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I didn't start writing until I started traveling in 2008, after university. Syria, India, Southeast Asia... lots of experiences to draw from.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Documenting the life of legendary Vietnamese war artist Pham Thanh Tam, who worked during the First, Second and Third Indochina Wars.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
KEEP AT IT! Writing for a living is a dream job for anybody interested. Your tenacity is more important than talent. Tenacity and practice.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime. I aim to write for publications around the world. Your morning might be my evening, but i'll still be reachable.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
One of the best pitches accepted so far was coverage of Witness Collection, a Vietnamese art collection with extensive war art from 1948.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
None so far. As a freelance writer, my pitches are my own. It's just a matter of whether they are excepted or not.
What's your favorite drink?
Whiskey Sours.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I'm most likely to be outdoors and on the move. As a keen photographer, I take any opportunity to get on the road and start snapping.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
National Geographic.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That news media is an international cabal secretly, intentionally steering public mood.
