John Chacona
(He/Him)
As seen in:
York Daily Record,
Erie Times-News,
Lebanon Daily News,
All About Jazz,
Beaver County Times,
Public Opinion Online,
The Evening Sun (Hanover, PA),
The Land (Cleveland)
Covers:
culture: music (mostly jazz and classical), theater, dance, comedy, occasional hard news
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
It was a feature for a city/regional title, on waterbeds. That might tell you how old I am.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I miss my Selectric-the old proportional-spacing model. It was like a 1959 Cadillac of a machine, but I loved her
How is social media changing news?
Too few characters for a think piece. Maybe later . . .
What does it mean to be a journalist?
I'll let real journalists answer that question. I'm in the Toy Department
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
MSWord to write on my Mac Air. Voice Record Pro for phoners, recorded on my decommissioned iPhone 4, Delicious Library 3.
What's your favorite social network?
Not really a fan, but I've been trying to learn Reddit.
Who do you wish followed you?
David Carr, maybe. Or Gary Giddins.
Why did you become a journalist?
By accident. I was an ad guy who had a knack for a snappy phrase. Now I feel like it's who I am. Can I be a part of this club?
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Nope.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A profile of Erie and Akron Philharmonic cellist Erica Snowden-Rodriguez was gratifying in a number of ways.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
<sigh>
When's the best time to pitch you?
Pitch? It's been years since I've been pitched. Bring it on!
What's your favorite drink?
Will my insurance carrier have access to this answer? Hard pass on this one.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In the kitchen. Feeding people is almost as satisfying as scribbling and far more fundamental
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I still love The New Yorker.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I do not get comped to every show--or any show for that matter
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.