Mark Maxwell
VerifiedInterview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I delivered newspapers at age 8. You could say I've delivered news for two decades. But my first two 'jobs' were unpaid internships.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, my mom taught an advanced typing class in the 90s, and I would play with a typewriter they had in the class.
How is social media changing news?
It amplifies political biases, rewards instant reactions, hijacks producers lives, yet brings far more viewers to the conversation.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Will McAvoy - played by Jeff Daniels in HBO's 'Newsroom.'
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
News aggregators are great content resources, but nothing beats the telephone. Text/calls are great. Skype very useful too.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter for headlines. Facebook for debates. Instagram for an escape from both.
Who do you wish followed you?
Stephen Colbert or Sylvester Stallone
Why did you become a journalist?
I became a journalist to tell the stories some people don't want told in a way that everyone else cannot ignore.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Challenge everything, especially the press release or the prepared press conference statements. Give voice to the unheard.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Early morning.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
A psychologist once offered to explain the "psychological and emotional impact" a criminal charge would have on Bill Cosby.
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Either at CrossFit, at a guitar lesson or behind a grill.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
New York Times or Wall Street Journal
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.