Miklos Bolza
Verified
As seen in:
Australian Associated Press (AAP),
MSN,
MSN Australia,
MSN India,
MSN Ireland,
MSN Singapore,
MSN UK,
Daily Mail,
Irish Daily Mail,
MSN Malaysia,
MSN Philippines
and
Covers:
Science, law, finance, environment, health
AAP court reporter, freelance science writer, journalist and content marketer. All opinions here are my own.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Freelancing in Thailand, working for ScandAsia which covered expat news about Scandinavians working and living there.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yeah when I was a kid. My dad had one.
How is social media changing news?
It's made it easier to get access certainly but it's also drawn away so much funding for publications which has hurt the media industry.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
It has to be Clark Kent. Out of all the jobs Superman chose, he picked reporting. Maybe all journalists are secretly super heroes.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
We have a responsibility to be factual, objective and fair in how we report what's going on out there.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I can't remember any that spring to mind, sorry...
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Give me clear, written instructions and an easy way to follow up with you if I need anything further.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I keep things simple. MS Word, Google Docs, Evernote and Gmail.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook. It's a love/hate relationship with the Zucc.
Who do you wish followed you?
Neil deGrasse Tyson just because I'd hope a little of his sheer status as a science communicator would rub off on me.
Why did you become a journalist?
It felt good to be out there talking to people and helping others find out what was going on.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
We didn't have a newspaper. I worked briefly for the audio-visual club though!
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
There have been a few really complex science articles I've done that felt so good when they finally unveiled to make an easy to follow story.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep on at it and don't doubt yourself. Even after several years, that imposter syndrome creeps in but you've just got to push it aside.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time! I'm usually checking my inbox.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I can't remember!
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I can't remember this one either.
What's your favorite drink?
Pisco sour! It's refreshing and it reminds me of visiting one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, Peru.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
During these COVID times, at the TV watching Netflix or playing the Switch. I'd like to be out bushwalking more though.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Cosmos. One of the best science publications in Australia and the world.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Both science and law are perceived to be boring. They're really not! You just need to dive beneath the jargon.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.