Kate O'Halloran
Verified- Digital Sport Journalist, Freelance
- Digital Journalist, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Australia, Melbourne
As seen in:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC),
MSN Australia,
AM (Podcast),
Issuu,
The Guardian,
The Guardian Australia,
ABC News (Australia),
IGN Australia,
Sydney Morning Herald,
The Age,
The Irish Times
and
Covers:
Gender equity, gender equity in sport, AFLW, football, politics, LGBTIQ issues, violence against women, aged care reform, ageing, family violence, climate change, trolling, education, video gaming
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first newsroom gig was Deputy Sports Editor at the Guardian. Other than that I have primarily freelanced
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Only when, as a kid, my Grandma showed me how things worked "in the olden days"!
How is social media changing news?
If you look at women's sport, there's a lot of people asking mainstream media to change and do better. That's a good thing
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Can't go past The Onion/The Shovel although I feel like satire is becoming harder and harder with what's actually happening in the world...
What does it mean to be a journalist?
You have an incredibly privileged platform from which to hold the powerful to account. For me it is also a means for social change & justice
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I did enjoy #wewillrebuild after the so-called Melbourne "earthquake" of 2012/2014.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email, text or anything that gives me time to read, consider and get back to you. As a freelancer that makes life a little easier
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I'm pretty old school/boring... my Macbook Pro and Google Docs are my standard go-tos.
What's your favorite social network?
I have a love/hate relationship with Twitter–mostly due to the fact that I'm frequently trolled on the platform. I do miss it when I log off.
Who do you wish followed you?
Well, Billie Jean King started following me not that long ago and I figure that's about as good as it gets.
Why did you become a journalist?
I've always been a writer but I'm also passionate about social justice and believe media at its best can be a force for progressive change
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Believe it or not. even my primary school work experience was working as a sports journalist for the local paper
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Probably the piece I did on aged care reform for The Saturday Paper, plus the associated 7am podcast "A Question of Dignity".
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
I'd be honest about the difficulties facing newsrooms and the sometimes harsh working conditions. Plus to ask for money as a freelancer
When's the best time to pitch you?
I get pitches via email a lot which is often better than phone as I may be at work when you ring. Texts are useful too!
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Personally I loved hearing from passionate young women/men who wanted to increase and improve the coverage of women in sport.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I genuinely can't think of anything awful I received while editor, for which I consider myself lucky
What's your favorite drink?
Soy flat white, one sugar.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At the footy, ranting about politics to a friend or playing video games (my favourite way to relax/unwind!)
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Saturday Paper
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I feel like this is millennial slang that I don't understand!
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.