Mary Rickard
(She/Her)
As seen in:
Reuters,
Gambit,
The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate,
The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA),
emerald insight,
64 Parishes Magazine,
Arts and the Market,
French Quarter Journal
Covers:
environment, art, dance, media, new orleans, profiles, theater, history
Doesn't Cover:
technology, gossip
muckrack.com/mary-rickard
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I have always been a freelancer.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Definitely - Selectric!
How is social media changing news?
Social media has made information transfer quicker but less accurate. It tends to be reactive rather than thoughtful, but has practical uses.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Trained to sift through piles of documents and interviews to emerge with a semblance of truth that can be readily understood and applied.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I prefer to talk on the phone.
What's your favorite social network?
I hate to admit, I enjoy facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
I would love to be a New York Times stringer in New Orleans.
Why did you become a journalist?
I wanted to write stories that were not being covered, particularly about social issues.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, I did not want to become a journalist until my 30s. In high school, I studied college prep and was president of a service club.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I am still most proud of my master's project about the disappearing middle class, published by Illinois Times. https://illinoistimes.com/by-author-192-1.html
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Find a niche that is not being filled.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mornings any day.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
handbags
What's your favorite drink?
gin & tonic
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
National Geographic
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.