What was your first job as a journalist?
Writing guides for Attack of the Fanboy up to and after its acquisition. Got to see quite the spectrum of compensation expectations there.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes! However, I do not own one. I love a tactile typing experience with lots of feedback, but a typewriter would never fit in my office.
How is social media changing news?
Social media can often muddle the real news of the day, but its keen observers can also prop up sources in ways print could only dream.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Howard Beale. Plenty of fans prefer the usual heroic journalists, but the best ones in my books spit bars during their publicized breakdowns.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To fully understand and verify a source before broadcasting it to the public, and to put the truth above using information to chase clout.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
There are lots, but lives in my head rent-free.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Give me a proposed headline; not necessarily your final one, but to show where your argument goes first. Then give me your argument and proof
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Varies on the job and their suites available. I commonly use Emaki, WordPress, SEMRush, Ahrefs, Parsely, Sentinel, Chartbeat, and GA4.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter, also known as X. It's infuriating how much of it is geared toward engagement farming, but news has been baked into it for years.
Who do you wish followed you?
Masashi Kishimoto. His work defined my childhood, much of my adolescence, and influences much of my current career.
Why did you become a journalist?
After working at GameStop and Cineplex Cinemas, I felt a career in journalism amid an AI-driven upheaval was the natural path. /s
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, sadly. There also wasn't one where I attended.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Writing about how Spy x Family helped me reckon with my previous professional and academic setbacks.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep your day job until you're certain you can dive in. Find and embrace your specialties. Tackle the most daunting task first, always.
When's the best time to pitch you?
9 AM - 5 PM ET.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Somebody was a massive fan of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo and wanted to write a recommendation piece for modern viewers. Easy yes.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
A list with AI-generated suggestions that didn't even fit the logical argument of the pitch.
What's your favorite drink?
The Old fashioned. Can never go wrong.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Eyeing space along my walls to add more bookshelves to store my expanding manga collection.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The New York Times and The Guardian are a typical rotation. But my all-time favorite is Cracked from its earlier days.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That we're paid to hype a certain series or tear down another. Fans don't appreciate their favorite anime being criticized.
