Kelly Duncan
(She/Her)
As seen in:
The Index-Journal,
Medium,
U.S. News and World Report,
The Charlotte Observer,
The Sacramento Bee,
Lexington Herald-Leader,
The News & Observer,
MYSA,
Tacoma News Tribune,
Times Union (Albany),
San Luis Obispo Tribune
and
Covers:
Local government, crime, sports, feature stories
News Editor at The Newberry Observer. Former reporter at The Clinton Chronicle and The Index-Journal.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
To write a profile story on the now former chief of police.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, a LONG time ago. I haven't used one since.
How is social media changing news?
When breaking news happens, one of the first things people do is go to social media. It helps get news out to viewers in real time.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I don't really have a favorite.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Deliver news to the public quickly and fairly and tell all sides of a story.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
This is a hard one...I'm sure there were a lot of funny hashtags when the whole Twisted Tea debacle happened.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I don't really have a preference.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Apple, Quark, Photoshop, GPS, ProImage
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram and TikTok
Who do you wish followed you?
Any journalist who would want to follow me and share the ups and downs of reporting.
Why did you become a journalist?
To be able to share people's stories with the community. There are so many people doing good things that need to be shared!
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
We did not have a paper, however, I was Yearbook Editor my senior year.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The story I wrote on a center that helps people with drug and alcohol addictions.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write and read a lot. Develop thick skin. Don't give up because this is a hard field to work in.
When's the best time to pitch you?
In the evening.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Joining a dive team to watch them perform underwater body bagging training.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
To do a story/take a photo of a big watermelon (it wasn't that big)...
What's your favorite drink?
A nice iced coffee or sweet tea!
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At home either reading or writing (pen and paper), or watching reality T.V.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Buzzfeed, Cosmopolitan, People, My taste in reading is really diverse.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.