What was your first job as a journalist?
Reporter in Valdosta, GA
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, not skilled with one though
How is social media changing news?
Honestly, it's harming it and making it more difficult to find real news.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Raoul Duke
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Don't send me the same press release you sent 100 others. Please make sure it's something I would write about.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Adobe Premiere Pro, Edius, ENPS, Adobe Lightroom, Wordpress, ARC
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
Trent Reznor
Why did you become a journalist?
It wasn't part of the plan, it just happened when I was in college I was asked if I wanted to freelance for the local paper so I did.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, never.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't accept statements as truth, ask follow ups and don't be afraid to push back --- always get the truth and nothing less.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mornings are best but unless it's specific to my beat it's not where I find stories.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
When an IT guy reached out to talk cybersecurity and didn't have a specific pitch in mind, just wanted to meet and talk.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I get hundreds weekly - the spam pitches are the worst.
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That I am your own private investigator or working for one side or the other. The only thing that matters to me is getting to the truth.
