What was your first job as a journalist?
An OpEd column I did for the Asian Wall Street Journal in 1986, documenting the turnaround in the Philippines
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
It allows more information to be disseminated, but also reinforces the "tribalization" of news into warring camps, which is awful
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Bob Odenkirk playing Ben Bagdikian in "The Post"
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To paraphrase Bill Belichick, it means doing your job and not purveying in gossip and clickbait
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I just wanted it to be original, rather than a heavily recycled idea which 100 other people were writing about
What's your favorite social network?
None. They are necessary evils and sometimes I think they are just evil
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
University paper, the Queen's Journal. Opinions Editor
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep writing, constantly. It's the only way to find your authentic voice, as well as helping to shape the issues that really matter to you.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time after I've had my first mug of coffee in the morning and before I've had a chance to have my mind ruined by Twitter :-)
What's your favorite drink?
Sparkling water or Kombucha
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Reading, or watching my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Financial Times to catch up on most of the daily news, and Consortium News to find out what is REALLY happening.
