Justin Weiss
Buffalo
As seen in:
LinkedIn,
TIME,
Patch,
Elite Sports NY,
Trellis,
Mondaq,
ExecutiveGov,
The Spectrum,
Value in Health Journal,
Tillamook Headlight Herald
and
Covers:
Mental health, men's and women's basketball, football, economics, COVID-19
Interview
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No, but I wish!
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Will McAvoy from The Newsroom. He cared about nothing else but covering the news the right way. That's exactly how we as journalists should approach our jobs.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Said Thomas Jefferson: “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
The biggest check on government is journalism. It's of paramount importance that things continue that way.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
When I write, I like my first drafts to be done the old-fashioned way, with a pen and paper. Once I'm at a place where I'm satisfied with my work, I'll format it on WordPress, where I'll then play around with its look.
Why did you become a journalist?
It's my way of giving back. I believe that when done right, hard-nosed reporting is a true public service.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I did, working my way up from a reporter to the news and sports editor.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The path that undrafted free agents take to get to the NFL rarely gets the attention it deserves, so I'm proud to have documented the plight of one such player, Minnesota State defensive tackle Bryan Keys.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't give up. While it may seem futile at times, your efforts to get recognized by a mainstream outlet will eventually pay off. Keep grinding and perfecting your craft.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Either hiking or watching baseball. Or doing both at the same time.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Atlantic, without a doubt. It's balanced, fair and trustworthy. Can't ask for much more than that.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.