Laura Williams
Verified
(She/Her)
Costa Rica, Texas
As seen in:
NJ.com,
Yahoo,
MSN,
MSN Canada,
MSN UK,
Yahoo Life,
HuffPost,
MSN India,
Yahoo Canada,
Yahoo News Australia,
Yahoo News New Zealand,
Yahoo News UK
and
Covers:
Health, fitness, wellness, sports, lifestyle, food, nutrition, travel, mental health
Writer/Editor/Fitness Expert
bylines @menshealth @healthmag @verywell @thrillist @thehealthy @mensjournal @onnit
Ex. Physiologist & Sport Nutritionist
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I started as a freelance writer for LiveStrong
Have you ever used a typewriter?
no
How is social media changing news?
It can be a primary news source with people on the ground, and a great way to source experts and find pitch ideas.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Robin Scherbatsky from How I Met Your Mother
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To provide the best possible information that will educate and inform without (excessive or unexplained) bias
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I rarely pay attention to hashtags
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Emails. If there's a fit, I'll answer. If there's not, but I think the information/product/expert will be useful later? I save the info.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Computer, cell phone, Slack, Google Docs, Asana, Trello
What's your favorite social network?
I use Facebook the most.
Who do you wish followed you?
Michelle Obama, Lebron James
Why did you become a journalist?
Writing and education are talents of mine - journalism allows for both
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, I was strictly an athlete.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The print magazine article I wrote on happiness around the world for Men's Health. It was the culmination of a long-term goal.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Embrace rejection - You can only get to the "yeses" by working through (and building on) the nos
When's the best time to pitch you?
In the mornings
What's the best pitch you ever got?
A well-timed pitch for an expert I needed; probably a doctor or nutritionist
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I don't remember what it was for, but someone repeatedly misspelled words and used a saying incorrectly
What's your favorite drink?
I'm a sucker for black coffee and red wine, but seltzer waters and margaritas are also favorites.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Running, going to the beach, playing with my kids, riding horses
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I read a lot of parenting and travel content
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That anyone can do it
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.