Author | Founder of TheHelpHUB.co | Crisis Counselor @ The Trevor Project | 3x survivor of suicide loss | Storyteller with NAMI | Mental Health Advocate
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Started the day after I graduated from college. My commute was 90 mins. I was a reporter for the Canton Journal. Felt like the NY Times.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yup. Although I'm a two-finger typist. Never learned proper technique. But I'm fast. (Inaccurate, but fast.)
How is social media changing news?
Nowadays, all news is delivered and dissected immediately...in real time. It's like we're connected to it, wherever it's happening.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Ted Baxter. He was a loveable idiot.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be a deliverer of news and all the stuff people want to know.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Any which way works for me. Fly my somewhere exotic to pitch me, though, and it's a guaranteed yes.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Surface is my technology of choice. Does everything and then some. Not sure why anyone would use anything else.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram. Quick, easy, lots of options for delivery, and powerful.
Who do you wish followed you?
Everyone. At the very least, all the moms on the planet.
Why did you become a journalist?
Always loved to write. Always loved knowing what's happening in the world. And love knowing it first.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Not high school, college. Started as the News Editor and became the Editor. Took it from traditional layout to computer-generated. Fun stuff.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Probably a column I wrote years ago paying homage to single parents. I was raised by my mom and she's a force. It made her cry.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Take every opportunity you get to showcase your work...even the ones that don't seem totally relevant to your sweet spot.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
My husband's marriage proposal. Still together.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
As an opinion columnist, I don't do a lot of pitching. I just write whatever's on my mind.
What's your favorite drink?
It's from Starbucks and I totally made it up. It's an iced green tea latte with 1 pump of peppermint, 1 scoop of matcha, and almond milk.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
With my husband and kids. Running. Doing November Project Boston. Practicing yoga. Biking.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Runner's World. My husband and I are avid runners and it's a huge part of our life. Plus it's the only print pub we have time to read.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Since I'm an opinion columnist who focuses heavily on parenting, people often think I have all the answers about how to raise kids. I don't.
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