Michelle Couch-Friedman
Verified
(She/Her)
- Consumer Reporter, The Points Guy
- Consumer Advocate and Ombudsman Columnist, Consumer Rescue
- Contributing Writer, Fodor's Travel
United States
As seen in:
Consumer Rescue,
Fodor's Travel,
The Points Guy,
Medium,
MSN,
Flipboard,
Elliott Report,
NewsBreak,
Our Community Now,
The Points Guy UK,
De Norte A Sur
Covers:
Consumer problems, focusing heavily on travel-related issues, scams, cruises
Doesn't Cover:
Politics
Consumer advocate, journalist, travel writer, founder of ConsumerRescue.org , ombudsman columnist: @thepointsguy , contributing author: @fodorstravel
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
At a non-profit.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Of course. In graduate school.
How is social media changing news?
Social media news reports are often based on anonymous complaints that cannot be fact-checked. This is very bizarre.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Stephen King
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Exposing problems, suggesting answers, and hopefully making a difference for my readers.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email.
What's your favorite social network?
I spend most of my social media time on Facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
I'm not really concerned about who follows me.
Why did you become a journalist?
I aim to use my platform to defend and educate consumers.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Nope.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
During the Vantage Travel bankruptcy in 2023, I attended every hearing and wrote a series of helpful guides for the victims.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Dive in and don't be afraid. Research your articles and ensure you're providing helpful information that isn't already out there.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Early in the morning. I'm an early bird.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The worst pitches are from people who are sending out mass pitches without doing a bit of research about who they are sending to.
What's your favorite drink?
Water, lol.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
On the treadmill, on an airplane, or in my garden.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I enjoy reading Cruise Critic, Nomadic Matt, and anything cruise-related.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I'm not aware of any misperceptions about my beat, lol. It's pretty straightforward.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.