Julia Métraux
Verified
As seen in:
Mother Jones,
Medium,
MSN,
Yahoo Life,
Business Insider,
HuffPost,
Yahoo News,
Gizmodo,
Fast Company,
Fortune,
Healthline
and
Covers:
Politics, Health, Disability, Culture, Religion, and Gender
Doesn't Cover:
Sports
@MotherJones reporter covering disability • she/her • Say hello: jmetraux@motherjones.com • On here for research
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first job as a journalist was freelancing for my town paper, the Town Crier.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Not in a formal way.
How is social media changing news?
Social media allows news to be spread more quickly, which is great, but allows for fake news to be spread quickly as well.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Andrea Sachs in the Devil Wears Prada due to her dedication to build herself up through experience in order to qualify for amazing positions.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being a journalist means writing articles to inform the public about issues or events.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#NotinMyName, which was used for Brexit, just because it was so unclear.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Whatever is best!
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I am proficient in Microsoft Office, WordPress, and InDesign. I know how to use Photoshop minimally.
What's your favorite social network?
My favorite social network is Facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
I wish people who are interested in human-rights topics and news followed me.
Why did you become a journalist?
I want to be able to inform the public on important topics.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes. One year A&E Editor, two year Photo Editor, and four year Staff Writer.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
An opinion piece on the unsuitability of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
It is important to try and get as much out of an interview subject without making them feel uncomfortable.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime! I'm best reached at juliametraux@gmail.com
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I really enjoyed covering a pow-wow at my university because it allowed me to become more aware of indigenous issues.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I had to write a story on my high school's failing JV Boys Soccer team in a positive light.
What's your favorite drink?
I enjoy just about any flavor of Vitamin Water.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I would most likely be with friends, at a dog park, or getting schoolwork done in a library.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
New York Times
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I think the most common misperception about my main beat, Politics, is that it can be reported on through an objectively.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.