What was your first job as a journalist?
Freelance reporter, tackling small business and local community news.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, way back in the late 1900s. It used to be the only way to fill out application forms.
How is social media changing news?
Shorter attention spans need shorter stories and lede sentences that will hook them.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Walter Burns
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It should mean following your instincts and finding stories that people want or need to know about. Instead it's a lot of press releases.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I'm not a big fan of
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email is the simplest, easiest option.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Computer, internet, and phone. I'm fairly old-school.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook
Who do you wish followed you?
Readers in the counties I cover, great writers, and journalists.
Why did you become a journalist?
After managing a political campaign in 2023, I discovered how much I enjoy being connected to and plugged into my community.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
We were a tiny school, so no newspaper. I did submit a few pieces to University of Mary Washington's poetry and creative writing publication.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Breaking the news that 2 illegal immigrants tried to access MCB Quantico, one of many incidents across the nation that weren't being covered.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
if you see or hear something that makes you curious, dig in. You're not the only one who wants to know.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mid-morning and late evening are the best times to catch me.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I'm not sure I've really pitched, yet.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I haven't seen any pitches that were awful - yet! Almost any and every topic is interesting.
What's your favorite drink?
Cranberry juice and club soda with at least 3 lime slices.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Heading up a local elementary PTA, socializing, or exploring new restaurants in town.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I enjoy Fox News, Garden
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Local news has the power to have the most direct impact on people.
