I am a writer and editor with 20 years of experience covering scientific, environmental, and medical topics.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Assistant Editor at Orlando Magazine
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes! I don't miss it!
How is social media changing news?
Let's not fully open this can-o-worms, but social media is the reason we even discuss fake news.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I'll switch this up and opt for my favorite fictional sleuth: Nancy Drew.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Dedication to seeking the truth.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Via email, with niceties.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Word, Google Apps
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
I wish more scientists followed me!
Why did you become a journalist?
I wanted to expose the truth.
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?
I am quite proud of a story I wrote about asbestos-contaminated talcum powder in cosmetics.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Work smart, be humble, put in the time, value your time, respect your editors.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Afternoon
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Will you provide a quote to the New York Times?
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Pitches for hyperlink additions to my articles are the worst.
What's your favorite drink?
Freshly brewed tea from loose tea leaves
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Eating, exercising, reading or watching TV
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Atlantic
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That asbestos is banned in the U.S.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.