What was your first job as a journalist?
Freelance assignments to McCall's magazine.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Throughout college and into grad school, when I bought an early Compaq that looked like a sewing machine.
How is social media changing news?
By killing great legacy publications and threatening facts. On the plus side, it seems to have breathed new life into long-form.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
William Smithback, Jr. And also Jim Block, a character in my novel in progress.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
That facts matter, as does story.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook. Guess that makes me old.
Who do you wish followed you?
Bill Bryson, Susan Orlean, and John McPhee.
Why did you become a journalist?
I love reading and exploration. Journalism was a natural outcome.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes, I mostly created puzzles and jokes, and goofed off.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The death of Sheck Exley for Sports Illustrated. It started as a fun profile and turned into a tight deadline account of tragedy.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Read everything.
What's your favorite drink?
Good bourbon.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In a cave, playing music, cooking, or playing tennis.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Atlantic
