Michael To
Hamilton, Oakville
Covers:
Videogames, Entertainment, Music, Science Journals, Acting and Performance
Doesn't Cover:
Health, Politics, Gossip Entertainment
Hamilton, Ontario origins, armed with Honours Drama & Theatre Degree (Music minor), Journalist at Sheridan College working at @cbcHamilton #hamont
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My university's newspaper Imprint Publications, where I learned the bulk of my journalistic skills, and relations.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes! My first few lessons in typing were done on a typewriter. Learning not to make mistakes without a backspace was hardcore.
How is social media changing news?
Everyone has become selfish in the news they absorb but also gives everyone the ability to contribute. It's fantastic and scary.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
J. Jonah. Jameson's fervent desire for pictures of spider-man.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To curate information, and let the public know what you know. To keep people in power in check, and to give the public the tools to act.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
The Egg. Full stop.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Via Email, with potentials for at least 1 or 2 multimedia aspects to add. To the point, with interesting angles.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Word, Wordpress, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Audition, Avid Media Composer, Finale Pro, Sibelius, Scrivener.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook is my go-to social media network, but Instagram is slowly getting more ground in my life.
Who do you wish followed you?
Game Developers and designers. Professional players in video games and card games, and celebrities interested in that world.
Why did you become a journalist?
I want to know more, and I want the world to know what I learn. I also want to keep people in power or rule responsible for their actions.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I worked as a writer for my high-school online newsletter, writing pieces, and uploading school schedules that students normally ignored.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The piece that I was proudest in writing was a collaborative piece written on the St. Patrick's Day celebration on Ezra Avenue.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Refine your writing, even if you think you're good. Be ready to write for exposure to start off, and to be disciplined.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Daylight hours, avoiding dinner-time hours - unless the pitch is food-themed, then anytime is fine.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Getting asked to create a music video and compilation for a local rock band. That was a great experience.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
The worst pitch I've ever received was an artist's one-man show, pitched as a fund-raising event, which turned out to be a PR stunt.
What's your favorite drink?
A ratio of Coke-Zero to Iced Tea, 70/30. Very calming variation of soft drinks that isn't terribly carbonated.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Eating food, out exploring the world, or just playing video-games.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
GameInformer has been one of the better video-game publications that I still monitor.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Video-game journalism is a laugh. That it's without merit or that it's constantly sensationalized, but it's a serious field that needs covering.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.