What was your first job as a journalist?
columnist at the Cornell Daily Sun more than a half-century ago.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes! I still own an Olivetti portable.
How is social media changing news?
making it ephemeral.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Curiosity! 24/7
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I don't take pitches
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
My brain, my ears, my mouth.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Transferring the lab testing scandal into a wine saga.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
read, read, and read some more.
When's the best time to pitch you?
no good time.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Alas, I don't do pitches.
What's your favorite drink?
Champagne!
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Walking around our small town.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Economist
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
My "beat" is broad - so no misperceptions.
