What was your first job as a journalist?
I wrote for a lifestyle magazine called Inner Realm.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. I took a typing class in high school to improve my speed for a temp job.
How is social media changing news?
It has made information more immediate, delivering it to a larger audience. However, the challenge becomes maintaining a standard of quality.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
I think the job of a journalist is to provide content that is well-researched, truthful and unbiased.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I prefer e-mail. If it is something that I want to develop, I like to schedule a phone meeting.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Review, Word Count, Word, File Converter, Photo Editor, Camera, Food props
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
Anthony Bourdain
Why did you become a journalist?
Certainly not for the money!
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?
A memoir I wrote about love, loss and culinary redemption.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Write about what resonates with you. Work for different types of editors to hone your skills as a writer.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mornings from 9-11am
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I was asked to develop a pilot for a food network.
What's your favorite drink?
Manhattan
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Outside walking or in the kitchen, preparing food.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Vintage cookbooks
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That food writing is shallow. Food is pervasive, especially when you're writing about the nostalgic aspect of food and culture.
