What was your first job as a journalist?
Banff Life Magazine, long since defunct
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I'm admitting my age but yes. Also I'm grateful that I actually learned to type in high school. Disappointment: I never learned shorthand.
How is social media changing news?
It's speeding the spread of stories, and making real reporting more important than ever.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
1.) By people who have researched me, and are pitching something they genuinely think suits my approach.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter is very useful for me; I like seeing what other journalists are following and commenting on, in real time.
Who do you wish followed you?
David Remnick
Why did you become a journalist?
I love finding the story beneath the story. And I like moving from topic to topic. I love learning new things.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
CJR's #1 story for 2019, titled, "I wrote a story that became a legend. Then I discovered it wasn't true..."
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Given the state of the business, I'm not sure I'd advise it at all. We need the truth more than ever, but as a career?..
When's the best time to pitch you?
Weekday mornings, or overnight so I see it in my first email scan of the day.
