Mark Menard
Verified
(He/Him)
As seen in:
Audacy.com,
MSN,
Substack,
Flipboard,
KALC-FM (Denver, CO),
KCBS-AM (San Francisco, CA),
KDKA-AM (Pittsburgh, PA),
KEYN-FM 103.7 (Wichita, KS),
KFTK-FM (St. Louis, MO),
KLUC-FM (Las Vegas, NV ),
KMOX-AM (St. Louis, MO)
and
Covers:
News, Politics, Sports, Pop Music, Rock Music
Intrepid former writer/content producer for Audacy News. Currently a free agent based out of New Orleans. Saints and Pelicans fan.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Covering local Louisiana high school sports for WWL Radio in New Orleans
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
Stories have to be more concise and to the point, and it helps to have an audio or video component. Attention spans are shrinking.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Bradley Jackson of The Morning Show
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means telling the truth, no matter how inconvenient or unpopular it might be, and finding what makes stories compelling.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Probably something to do with Florida Man
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
A few sentences via email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Firefox browser. Wavelab for editing audio. Toshiba laptop.
What's your favorite social network?
Reddit
Who do you wish followed you?
Barack Obama
Why did you become a journalist?
I wanted to tell compelling stories. If I'm passionate about something, chances are someone else is, too.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
My high school didn't have a newspaper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The comprehensive piece I did on the relationship between marijuana legalization and crime rates.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
If something doesn't smell right to you, trust your instincts. And never stop improving.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mid-morning
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I can't recall any truly mind-blowing pitches.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I don't recall any truly terrible pitches.
What's your favorite drink?
Alcoholic: Jameson Irish Whiskey | Non-alcoholic: Dr. Pepper
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Playing with my kids or enjoying time with my wife.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Atlantic
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I've had several beats, but I'd say in sports, it's not about scores or X's and O's, it's about people and their motivations and triumphs.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.