What was your first job as a journalist?
My first job as a journalist is the one I currently have -- writing for Bear World Magazine!
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes! My mother bought me one when I was in middle school at my request. Most people had computers, but I requested an old typewriter.
How is social media changing news?
Everything is literally a click away, though you have to be careful for click bait and satire.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Lana Winters from American Horror Story: Asylum.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being a journalist is all about being a thinker and a problem solver. You had to investigate and report, but also do your research.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I would love to be emailed or messaged directly on social media!
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I mostly use Google Drive, WordPress, Hootsuite and Dropbox.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter! I love how it challenges you to write concisely.
Who do you wish followed you?
Stephen King and Viola Davis: Two legends.
Why did you become a journalist?
I became a journalist because I think a lot. And, because I think a lot, I have a lot to say. I'm passionate, and that keeps me going.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I actually didn't work for my high school newspaper, but I wrote an article for my college newspaper once.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I’m most proud of writing the articles that address racism in the Bear community for Bear World Magazine, particularly the one entitled “White Bears, it’s time for you to be uncomfortable.” That article was extremely popular in the LGBTQ community and received lots of feedback, both positive and negative. It opened up a conversation in the LGBTQ community, particularly in the Bear Community, about racism that has been brewing for a long time. It was time to have the conversation, and I was happy to be the person to do it.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
To write what you are passionate about! People can tell when it's disingenuous.
When's the best time to pitch you?
The best time to pitch to me is between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The best pitch ever was when I was asked to contribute to Bear World Magazine!
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I haven't received a really bad pitch yet.
What's your favorite drink?
My favorite drink is absolutely an Arnold Palmer -- or as people call it in Baltimore where I lived for seven years, a "Half an' Half".
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In the kitchen. I'm a foodie.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I love so many publications! I read the New York Times, but I also like to read Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I don't think I have one, to be perfectly honest. However, I'm sure I'll experience this with more time.
