María Peña
As seen in:
MSN España,
Nature,
Wiley Online Library,
Clarín (Argentina),
Diario ABC,
Library Of Congress,
NBC News,
NBC News Latino,
Revista Viva,
Infobae
and
30-year+ career journo, Comms @LibraryCongress, writer, photo enthusiast. RTs ≠ endorsement. Opinions = my own.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I was a news producer for the local Univision affiliate in the DC area, but I did everything in the newsroom, including anchoring.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, we used them while I was a freshman in college.
How is social media changing news?
It´s definitely helping spread news at a faster pace, in real time, and to a far wider audience.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
There are many good ones. I liked Mikael Blomkvist, in the "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means to really care about making a difference in a person's life, about educating and informing public opinion, about seeking the truth.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I use a digital tape recorder for interviews, my Mac for writing and filing stories, and Wordpress to edit and publish stories.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
People in the current Trump Administration.
Why did you become a journalist?
I joined this profession for its vital role in a democracy, telling stories, informing voters and holding elected officials accountable.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
It was more like a newsletter, and I occasionally contributed articles. I also worked on the yearbook.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I have particularly enjoyed covering the plight of "Dreamers" and their fight for immigrant rights in the halls of power in DC.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Read a lot, about everything, widen your comfort zone, build relationships with sources, and network every chance you get!
When's the best time to pitch you?
I find it´s best in the evenings or early mornings, when I´m not rushing about trying to meet deadlines.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Connecting me to people with extraordinary struggles and achievements.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Far too many to remember. Perhaps the worst one was from an onion producer pitching recipe ideas.
What's your favorite drink?
I enjoy an occassional glass of red wine, but for health reasons, most days I carry a huge bottle of water to refill constantly.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
On the phone talking to sources.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Another tough question, as there are so many good ones. I like "The Atlantic".
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That journalists covering politics are all cozying up to people in power, or that we have unfettered access to decision makers.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.