Rhenzel Raymond Caling
(He/Him)
As seen in:
verafiles.org,
Tinig ng Plaridel
Covers:
education, public health and sanitation, cybersecurity, transportation and disinformation
reporter @verafiles | upd journ 2023
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I started as a reporter in VERA Files, a nonprofit media in the Philippines that focuses on in-depth reports and fact-checking.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I tried using a typewriter back in elementary school as part of a class activity.
How is social media changing news?
While social media makes news delivery more seamless, the free flow of information also makes audiences vulnerable to disinformation.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be a journalist is to always side with the truth.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I welcome pitches across all platforms but sending them via email would be much appreciated.
What's your favorite social network?
I'm mostly on Twitter (now X).
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I did work for our high school paper. I started as a news writer and eventually became editor-in-chief during my senior year.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My first-ever published story for our college paper about censorship in high school publications.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
There is always a workaround to every unanswered interview and document request.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I usually work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PHT) so I am very much willing to entertain pitches during those hours.
What's your favorite drink?
I love soft drinks, especially Coke.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I'll likely be on my phone, either watching movies or listening to music.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I love reading The New York Times and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That fact-checkers are the ones who delete erroneous posts on social media.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.