What was your first job as a journalist?
Starting a school newspaper in fifth grade. It didn't survive.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes and I'm super-grateful my mom had one in the house because I'm a really fast typist.
How is social media changing news?
I can't sum that up in a blurb. In a nutshell: it is driving a rewrite of how we approach journalism.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Absolutely Polly from Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow— she is so realistic with always needing a reminder to remove her lens cap.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
We are recorders of history, the intellectual yet neutral observers, the ones who keep watch and weed through the garbage to discern facts.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Probably .
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Call or email me. I'm friendly, I promise.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I typically live on Google at home. I sometimes get to lay out calendar items in InDesign and I often clean up photos in PhotoShop.
What's your favorite social network?
It depends on what I'm doing— Twitter is for wit; FB is for groups; Instagram is for images; LinkedIn is for feeling unworthy.
Who do you wish followed you?
Martine Powers. I listen to the Washington Post podcast daily and wish I had that reach.
Why did you become a journalist?
I fell into this job but the skill set is intuitive. My favorite job duties have involved research, writing, analysis, connections.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, I was a drama kid, to be honest, always backstage. I later majored in dramaturgy/script editing in college.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
All the protest stories during summer 2020— they had meaning.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be honest and straightforward.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Late Tuesdays or early Wednesdays is best for story pitches because Thursdays is when stories are set for the week.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The 50th Congressional district forum was professionally worthy but the "best" ones are always locally interesting with a national tie-in.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Real Estate.
What's your favorite drink?
Plain water, coffee, peach snapple, good red wine, hard cider and a Bee's Knees all make the list. No soda.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I can be found at the beach with my dog whenever possible.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
It depends on what I'm researching at the time but I'm always a Washington Post fan.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Community news isn't always fluff— I am local with national scope, like Congressional runs and national Veterans events.
