What was your first job as a journalist?
Editorial assistant at a weekly community newspaper.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, I have.
How is social media changing news?
Reporting done faster.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Lois Lane
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be a storyteller, an observer. To report on what's happening around you, from the noticeable to the overlooked.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email is best because I think it's better to see your idea in writing than trying to explain/sell it by phone.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
WordPress, Hootsuite, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tweetdeck, Snapchat. Using iPhone to film more.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
Those who continue to thrive in our industry and keep up morale during the hard times we're facing.
Why did you become a journalist?
I always had an interest in writing. What I like about journalism is that your job is never boring.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I worked for my college newspaper and went from being a staff writer to a features editor to co-editor-in-chief.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Learning and share the true story of a museum in Iowa focused on a one-time letter exchange between a local farm girl and Anne Frank.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Learn as much about technology that drives our field today (social media, analytics, video production, podcasts) to stay current.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Late mornings and early afternoons.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Tough call. But ones that are straight to the point, with a fun/creative subject line are best.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Getting a followup on pitch in which a PR pro listed his anger at not getting responses and wasting his time emailing us.
What's your favorite drink?
Tea but sometimes a good red wine is necessary.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Hopefully out and exploring.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Travel & Leisure
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That I'm not really "working." I am.
