What was your first job as a journalist?
I took box scores from high school coaches as the nightly agate page designer for a small daily just outside of St. Louis.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
All through elementary school
How is social media changing news?
It's changing the speed and vetting process. I think it's also showing why we need people to confirm facts to weed out misinformation.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Eddie Brock
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means being accountable to the people you cover. No matter how big or small, your stories can impact their lives. So report responsibly
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I honestly can't recall
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
With facts and evidence to support the source's claims, ideally with official documents to back them up. Makes my life a whole lot easier
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Pen, pad, recorder, phone, camera, laptop and Otter
What's your favorite social network?
Still a Facebook guy. I'm old school
Who do you wish followed you?
Andre 3000 from Outkast
Why did you become a journalist?
I love to write and I'm naturally gifted at telling stories with the written word.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I did not. Actually that's one of my regrets in life. Wish I'd have started sooner.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I wrote about a young man who died from a medical emergency in jail. Medical staff didn't handle it right, and our coverage showed that.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Find a niche and corner your own market, Chat GPT is coming at us fast.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime I'm not hungry or tired.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Honestly my best pitches have usually been hunches I've had on my own. Last one resulted in a human interest feature on court interpreters.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
A woman came to my newsroom and tried to convince me Elon Musk was stalking her through electromagnetic waves. Maybe I missed out on a scoop
What's your favorite drink?
Grape Fanta
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Swimming laps at LA Fitness, spending time with my wife or doing some work around the house.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Atlantic
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That courtroom drama is like television. It's not nearly as over the top, but there are legit consequences at stake so the suspense is real.
