Joe George
(He/Him)
As seen in:
Apple Podcasts,
MSN,
MSN New Zealand,
Yahoo Entertainment,
Yahoo Life,
Yahoo Canada,
Yahoo News Malaysia,
Yahoo Singapore,
Aol,
wikiHow
and
Covers:
Pop Culture, Comics, Theology, Christianity, Film, Television, Literature
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Same as my current job: freelancing for anyone who takes my pitch.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I'm old, so yes.
How is social media changing news?
Although social media absolutely has its benefits, it also allows more people to confuse reading the headline with reading the article.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Ben Urich from Spider-Man comics.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Because I deal mainly in criticism, it means being clear and honest about my reactions to a work.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Recently, all of the riffs on the "She died in the Amazon" line from the Madame Web trailer.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I do not often receive pitches.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I use my computer every day and work with Pages, Grammarly, and Safari.
What's your favorite social network?
Sadly, it's still Twitter.
Who do you wish followed you?
Although it's validating when critics or creators I respect follow me on social media, I don't spend much time worrying about that.
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I genuinely believe stories change the world and I want people to feel more equipped to engage with stories.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I did not.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I'm most proud of my book The Superpowers and the Glory: A Viewer's Guide to the Theology of Superhero Movies.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't be insecure about your take on a work. Your feelings are your feelings. It's your job to justify them with evidence and nothing else.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I don't often handle pitches, so any time.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Again, I'm not really the person who handles pitches.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I immediately delete any pitch advocating a noxious philosophical or political position.
What's your favorite drink?
Water or green tea with honey.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Watching a movie or tv show, reading a book or a comic.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I admire the writing at Bright Wall/Dark Room.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That critics act as consumer advocates. We simply describe our reactions to work, not give purchasing advice.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.