How is social media changing news?
It makes it easier to reach people and easier to mislead them. The difference usually comes down to whether the person speaking actually knows what they are talking about.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To ask the questions most people do not think to ask, and then explain the answers to everyone else. That is a genuinely important job, especially in science and health where the gap between what research shows and what the public understands can be enormous.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email with context. Tell me what you are working on, what angle you are taking, and what you actually need from me. I am happy to help when I understand what the story is trying to do.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
PubMed and Google Scholar for staying on top of the science. Shopify to run the store. Canva and basic video tools for content. And honestly, a notebook for thinking things through before they go anywhere near a screen.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram. It forces you to explain complex science simply, which is harder than it sounds and more useful than most people think.
Who do you wish followed you?
Journalists and writers covering health, longevity, and science who are looking for a source that will give them the real answer, not the marketable one.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, I didn't.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Talk to scientists directly. We are often more accessible than people think, and most of us genuinely want our work to be understood and communicated well. A good journalist asking good questions is something we welcome.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Email works best. Be specific about what you need and why it is relevant, and I will do my best to respond promptly.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Any pitch that leads with celebrity endorsements and ends without a single reference to how the product actually works. That tells me everything I need to know.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Outside, preferably somewhere with fresh air and no notifications. A long walk clears my head better than anything. And whenever possible, with my family around me.
