Jenni Walker
Newport Beach, Orange County, CA
Covers:
Social issues, relationships and human-interest stories, nature and the environment, legal news, technology, business, dating and social platforms, and more!
Doesn't Cover:
None that I can think of, although I do have preferences.
Interview
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes... but it had some digital functions and was just for fun. I was a kid.
How is social media changing news?
It is changing how accessible news is.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I read non-fiction writing and memoir. I look to journalists for the truth.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To look for the truth, ask the questions that matter, and push beyond the obvious.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email or through my established platforms is fine.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Google Search, Google Docs, Google Sheets, online public records and databases, social media, email, Zoom, and transcription and fact-checking tools.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook. I know, it's the old person Network, but I enjoy words more than pictures!
Who do you wish followed you?
Bernie Sanders,
Why did you become a journalist?
I have been a professional writer since 2010, and journalism appealed to me after realizing how many untold stories have the power to create positive awareness.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes. I was a writer. I was the youngest one (10th grader) in the class, my first year.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I work on a lot of features about noteworthy people and businesses. It is very inspiring. I was featured in New York Times as a voice in 2019
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be consistent. Pitch regularly. Subscribe to HARO. Continue to read and learn your craft.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
To be a featured voice in a New York Times story. While it was not my writing, I hope it elevated an important issue that affects many women.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
To write for a foreign dating site.
What's your favorite drink?
Water. Actually, sparking water with lime!
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At a coffeeshop or walking outside.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
New York Times, The New Yorker
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That human-interest stories don’t require extraordinary circumstances, just everyday people’s stories brought into the light!
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.