What was your first job as a journalist?
Features Writer, Scottish Daily Record. Prior to that a number of freelance positions starting with UK music press publications.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, I used a typewriter until Apple Macs came along and I used Tippex.
How is social media changing news?
When I started out everything was snail mail. No internet, no computers, no mobile phones. News took time. Social Media makes it instant.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Henry Hackett played by Michael Keaton in The Paper.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email in the first instance.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Mac computer (can't really work a PC), various apps like Spotify, word, dictaphone, mobile phone, feet, mouth, hands and ears.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter.
Why did you become a journalist?
Loved writing and loved music so ended up writing about music.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
University Newspaper, Strathclyde Telegraph
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Probably a series covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and spending a week covering Annie Lennox in Malawi.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Ran my own fanzine then I became Scottish Stringer for Sounds, one of three UK music papers that were all selling over 250,000 copies weekly.
When's the best time to pitch you?
When I'm semi-conscious. It means my guard is down.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I'm offering an exclusive interview with an unknown band because I want you to be first. Here's today's feature on them that ran in The Sun.
What's your favorite drink?
I'm a wino.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
New York Times
