Mark Kinyanjui
(He/Him)
Kenya
As seen in:
Pulse Sports Kenya,
Striver
Covers:
Football, rugby, athletics, motorsport, darts
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
An intern for Royal Media Services in Kenya.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, but only for fun as a kid! Haha.
How is social media changing news?
By bringing a sense of more immediacey. That you can instantly break news off the click of a button unlike before.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
To be honest, I relate more to reality, so I cannot say I follow fictional journalists.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Telling stories. Evolving with the times. Telling the people things as they are.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
On Slack, and even whatsapp.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe audition, Illustrator, Google Docs, Gemini, ChatGPT, Final Cut, Capcut
What's your favorite social network?
X
Who do you wish followed you?
To be honest, I have never thought about being followed. I just want to grow my own audience organically and followers will come.
Why did you become a journalist?
I was first, passionate about sports. So I thought to myself, I am pursuing a bachelors degree in Information Science. How do I monetise it?
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A story I did on the underappreciated role of pacemakers back in 2022 when Eliud Kipchoge smashed the marathon record in Berlin.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Follow your passion. Do what makes you happy. Cover stories in genres you are passionate about.
When's the best time to pitch you?
9-11 AM (UK time) - 11-1 EAT,
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Asked to do a follow up after Enock Mwepu had to retire due to a heart complicated issue
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Being asked to do a story on a punter winning 150 dollars.
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Running a football club back in Kenya.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Athletic
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That Kenya is not a football nation but is an athletics one.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.