John Daniel Tangalin
Verified
(He/Him)
Covers:
horror, drama, comedy, thriller, action, science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, mystery, animation, adaptations, romance, romantic-comedies, anthologies, coming-of-age
Doesn't Cover:
musical, documentaries
Thicc Judge Judy 🇵🇭🇬🇺🇺🇸 Managing Editor @TheCinemaSpot • 📝 at other outlets • 🍅-approved • MFA student in English Lit • He/him/his
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first role as a journalist was to write a thinkpiece of an actor's then-unknown role in a major blockbuster film.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I have used a typewriter at a grandparent's home, but never professionally.
How is social media changing news?
The 2020s decade opened the door for social media influencers, and news has more than often been getting misconstrued lately.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
The best fictional journalists or, in general, writers, seem to appear in Stephen King stories, yet I do not happen to have a favorite.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Journalism and writing in general, as is everything else, is all about information and what value information holds.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
All news-relevant hashtags are, in one way or another, funny to me, just in the fact that they exist.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Pitch me stories simply by communicating.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
WordPress, Zoom, social media
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter is a rather unique social network platform, although Letterboxd happens to lean more on the optimistic side of the spectrum.
Who do you wish followed you?
I wish all the necessary people relevant to my beat and field followed me back.
Why did you become a journalist?
Journalism is a creative outlet to uncover what makes sense and how that connects the cogs within the machine that is the world.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
My high school never had a newspaper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My best critical reviews are when I involve critical theory or develop theoretical framework that makes sense based on evidence.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Absorb more—read more, observe more, watch more
When's the best time to pitch you?
The best pitch depends on the timezone.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The best pitch I ever received was to collaborate on a video game review during the pandemic.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
The worst pitch I have received was writing as fewer paragraphs as possible.
What's your favorite drink?
My favorite drink is a beverage that tastes good.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Cafe, movie theater, bedroom
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Some publications aren't text-based, and I often find myself watching Dead Meat videos on YouTube.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
A common misperception about my beat is we get paid a lot or be paid as an influential factor into our work.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.