Joleen Jernigan
Verified
(She/Her)
As seen in:
The American Genius,
Eater Austin,
KXAN-TV (Austin, TX),
The Austinot,
Tribeza Magazine,
Austin Fit Magazine,
foundingAUSTIN
Covers:
Food, drinks, hospitality, current events, technology, entrepreneurship, travel, day trips, people, music, nonprofits, festivals/events, and marketing
Doesn't Cover:
Finance, politics, sports
Writer and gadabout in Austin: eternally curious, ever exploring, always savoring life's joys, wonders, twists, and turns. And going on about it. she/her
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I wrote a travel feature for an online magazine called Invasive Thoughts. They have since taken the website down.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, back in the day...I was not good at it.
How is social media changing news?
Most people are reading and watching their news online. This shortens the news cycle yet can expand the audience for any given story.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I don't have one. Hmmmm.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Integrity, desire to explore, investigate, and share people's stories. As a blogger, I am able to put more emotion/bias into stories, though.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Probably #birdiesanders or #putabirdonit when Bernie was giving his speech and the little bird landed on his podium and stayed there a while.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
It's important to have some clue of what I write about, some idea of what the publication is focused on.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Wordpress, Facebook, social media schedulers, Squarespace, Instagram, Google docs, Twitter (less so), and MS Office.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram. I love it for its simplicity and visual appeal. I love the convenience of finding and organizing info with hashtags.
Who do you wish followed you?
David Sedaris or Sandra Cisneros would be cool.
Why did you become a journalist?
I love writing. It's a privilege and honor to be trusted with people's stories and to share them.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I did! I wrote and edited my high school newspaper and yearbook.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I loved writing about Tomar & the FCs, as it was my first article on a specific band. It shows my range and personality.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
People tell you its hard. They're right, but don't let that deter you. Work hard; hang in there. Keep writing. Keep submitting.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mid-afternoon to evening
What's the best pitch you ever got?
It was one that gave the "ask" in the first sentence or two: News, then ask, then follow up info.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
It was about the 4th one for the same thing after I had politely said no the first few times.
What's your favorite drink?
Anything with mezcal or rye whiskey
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I am most likely to be swimming at a swimming hole, taking my dog on an adventure, or listening to live music in a dive bar.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Texas Monthly, National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveler
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
People confuse bloggers with social media influencers, but while a blogger can be an influencer, most influencers do not write articles.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.