What was your first job as a journalist?
Ever? Power Rankings and More, a blog you've never heard of. Paid? The Utah Statesman. Non student paper? The Herald Journal.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I've pushed the buttons/keys on a typewriter which resulted in letters being written on a page. But no, I haven't really used a typewriter.
How is social media changing news?
Breaking news no longer comes in the morning paper, or in an online article. News sites are instead becoming where context is added to news.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Superman
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Telling good stories.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Slower than 90 MPH
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Sports Reference, Synergy Sports, Adobe Premier/Photoshop/InDesign, Microsoft Excel, Canva.
What's your favorite social network?
I use Twitter the most. Not really sure I could consider any social network a "favorite."
Who do you wish followed you?
People who respect my work (not saying no one who follows me respects it, just saying that's who I want following me).
Why did you become a journalist?
I discovered my passion for writing in my late teens and resolved to pursue that love for writing and turn it into a career.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No. I played football and joined the debate team. Not even sure if my high school had a school paper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
An investigative journalism piece on former USU track head coach, Greg Gensel. Did a lot of leg work for what was a short series of articles.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Persistence and confidence. Also be ready to be on the phone with strangers plenty.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I'm typically available in the morning
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Haven't really received many pitches so can't really classify one properly as "the best."
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Guy threw the pitch right behind me. I'm not a left-handed batter.
What's your favorite drink?
Jones soda
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Work. The non-boring answer being doing something sports related, either playing casually or attending a game.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Athletic
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
It's not just about attending games, mid-week and post-game press conferences and writing game previews and recaps.
