Michael Balter
Verified
(He/Him)
As seen in:
The Croton Chronicle,
Medium,
The New York Times,
Los Angeles Times,
The Atlantic,
The Verge,
WIRED Magazine,
JSTOR Daily,
Scientific American,
Slate,
Substack
and
Covers:
Politics, science, #MeToo, social commentary, etc.
Doesn't Cover:
There is nothing that I am not interested in.
Journalist/journo prof. Publisher: “The Croton Chronicle” thecrotonchronicle.substack.com/ and “Words for the Wise” michaelbalter.substack.com
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Freelancing in Los Angeles for the LA Times, LA Weekly, LA Reader, and Los Angeles Magazine; later on staff for Science.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, in ancient times.
How is social media changing news?
Makes it easier to contact sources and to promote stories, and makes everything happen in real time.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I don't have a favorite, because they are stereotypes. I prefer real ones.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Journalism is a noble profession when done right, we are truth-tellers in a world where ignorance sometimes rules.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
A Mac and Word, like so many others.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
Ronan Farrow.
Why did you become a journalist?
I wanted to know and understand what was going on in the world.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A story for Science about a scientist who sexually assaulted a colleague and almost got away with it.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't be afraid of hard work, don't let depressed older reporters get you down, and don't let anyone tell you what the rules are.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time by email.
What's your favorite drink?
Margarita
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In my easy chair reading or out taking a walk.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
New York Review of Books
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That #MeT
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.