Nichole Owens
Verified
(She/Her)
As seen in:
WebMD
Covers:
Health, lifestyle
Doesn't Cover:
Business, finance, technology
Interview
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes--throughout college. I actually remember thinking that word processors and computers were a fad.
How is social media changing news?
It's blurring the lines between journalist and influencer, and influencer and content creator, for starters.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means being willing to ask hard questions, uncover hard truths, and speak truth to power when necessary, to amplify voices of the unheard.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email is best.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
MuckRack, Cision, Microsoft 365, Asana
What's your favorite social network?
Substack
Why did you become a journalist?
It was my way to try to make sense of the world, and to connect with people and ideas across human-constructed divides through storytelling.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes. I went to high school in Germany, where my father was stationed with the U.S. Army. I was a staff writer for the school paper.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Early mornings--before 10 a.m. is ideal.
What's your favorite drink?
Depends on the time of day. In the morning, coffee with steamed milk and sugar. After 5 p.m., a crisp, refreshing riesling.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In my garden.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Mother Jones
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That people who cover health-related topics are medical experts. Not so. We're just insatiably curious and love to research.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.