What was your first job as a journalist?
Paid? Wrote a review of a psychobilly album for Metromix.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
This question is ageist.
How is social media changing news?
Probably by making it worse. But now I can see politicians get arrested by cops in real time.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Every journalist is fictional.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
You'll never get paid what you're worth. You'll be angry a lot. But you wouldn't do anything else if you had it your way.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Silly question. Next.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Invest in a decent spellchecker. Avoid AI. Expand your vocabulary through apps or weird dictionaries. Adopt a shelter cat.
What's your favorite social network?
None. Read a book (advice to myself).
Who do you wish followed you?
Anyone who wants to talk about music, pro wrestling, or drag queens.
Why did you become a journalist?
I like telling stories.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Do they even have high school newspapers anymore?
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
'The Sound of Pride' series at Hollywood Life. We had no Pride month coverage before that. It's not much, but I'm proud of it.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Work hard, be kind, stay professional, and your coworkers will get you a new job after you get laid off.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Right down the middle. Smacked it out of the park. Go Cyclones!
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
One that was high and to the right. No way I was going to hit that.
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Hanging out at Brooklyn Game Knight, enjoying myself at Coney Island, or somewhere with a cup of coffee.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Stereogum
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That we know what we're doing. We're all just fans writing about music. It takes a few decades to get good at it. I'm not there yet.
