What was your first job as a journalist?
I worked for the TV station at LSU, Tiger TV, and for the school's magazine Legacy.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Ha! Yes.
How is social media changing news?
Social media are making news an on-demand business
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Don't have one. I have a lot of real ones though.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Finding truth, digging deep, ASKING QUESTIONS, going beyond the spin, providing context, making people think, telling stories that need told
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Via email with things that are relevant to my audience specifically, not everyone on the planet. I get thousands of emails a day.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
The internet, social media, video cameras, phone cameras, Excel, Clickability, Chartbeat, Google
What's your favorite social network?
Personally: Facebook. Professionally: Twitter.
Who do you wish followed you?
Everyone. Ha!
Why did you become a journalist?
I believe in journalism as the fourth branch of government. Journalists keep people honest and give an unfair world a little bit of fairness.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Investigation into double billing at Orleans Parish Prison, coverage of Hurricane Gustav,
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Build your personal brand. ASK QUESTIONS. Get to know people and network. Learn which stories are worth more time.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Early morning
