Have you ever used a typewriter?
Not in my career. I did in typing class. In high school I used a word processor. All digital since then.
How is social media changing news?
Accelerating the process and prompting outlets to cover what people are discussing.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Well, Kolshak: The Night Stalker. Darren McGavin was a great actor. And there was a news librarian character that helped solve mysteries!
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Report the truth and expose its opposite. The facts still matter.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
There are some humorous ones when Russian President Vladimir Putin pulls a publicity stunt:
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Macintosh, the Internet of course, Excel, public library resources, commercial databases, open data
What's your favorite social network?
Probably Twitter. Although there are interesting ones around specialized topics and interests.
Who do you wish followed you?
Anyone interested in data journalism or what news librarians bring each day.
Why did you become a journalist?
I studied mass communication, the science of information and methods to improve newspaper journalism.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Currently working on a project to highlight progress in the world and aggregating data on it.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Build something. Find a specialized subject where no one is doing anything and own it.
