What was your first job as a journalist?
I worked for New York’s Nightlife Magazine, covering entertainment, while still in college.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Absolutely! All through college and my first years as a writer.
How is social media changing news?
It’s quicker to get news
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I really can’t think of one.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To me, it’s being a writer, editor, photographer, and TV personality.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I can’t remember a specific one, but the political ones are usually ridiculous.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft 360 and Adobe photoshop are my lifelines.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook, because it offers the most options for sharing.
Who do you wish followed you?
Matthew Perry. I felt a tennis connection with him and always wanted to talk about it with him. RIP :(
Why did you become a journalist?
I wanted to be a writer since I was a child.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, but I worked at, and eventually ran, my college paper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
That’s a tough one. I recently wrote about my wheelchair travel trip which was also a bucket list trip. That was for Accessible Journeys.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Decide what you want to focus on, considering what your experience is in.
When's the best time to pitch you?
It doesn’t really matter. The afternoons will usually get the quickest response.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
A pitch that really met my audience from someone who actually read my profile and work.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I recently got a pitch about a book that discusses how depression can lead to suicide. No kidding.
What's your favorite drink?
Soy latte with whatever flavor I want that day!
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Midwest Living
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That traveling is a vacation. I get little time to relax and enjoy.
