Joseph Cottle
Kansas City
Covers:
Tech, Religion, Churches, Outdoor Lifestyle
Doesn't Cover:
Entertainment, politics
Freelance Writer & Producer • Dad • Churchleader. Bylines at Outreach Magazine, Church Production, and Real Producers.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I covered entertainment for The Torch at Ferris State.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I own two.
How is social media changing news?
MISINFORMATION.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Paul Kemp in The Rum Diary.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Get at the truth, period.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Twitter is a distant memory.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Just email me.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
My writing lives in Google Docs. Fireflies.ai captures all of my interviews. Obsidian web clipper to grab clips I need.
What's your favorite social network?
Substack is the best spot for writers to connect with other writers, specifically religion and faith writers.
Who do you wish followed you?
Norman McLean
Why did you become a journalist?
I love writing, and I wanted to get paid to do it.
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 profiled a former public school teacher who is now a quiet real estate mogul in the Denver area. He was kind to me and humble.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Find your niche and be persistent to get in front of editors. If you're a good writer, you'll get hired, but you have to be persistent.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime. I'm always checking my email. I generally respond within hours.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I'm currently waiting for it to be approved, so it's a secret.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I was assigned to cover an awards ceremony for my college paper. It was an absolute snoozefest.
What's your favorite drink?
Cold brew, black. Lagavulin on the rocks. I make a really good margarita, too.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Being a dad and my wife's best friend.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Cook's Illustrated, the New York Times, and Wired.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Tech isn't just computers and neck beards, and real estate isn't sexy. It's all hard work.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.