Nickie Harper-Williams
(She/They)
United Kingdom
As seen in:
Stuff (UK)
Covers:
Accessibility, gaming, technology, travel and music.
Doesn't Cover:
Science, politics, history.
Hard of hearing. @wigj Ambassador. @GameA11yNexus HoH editor. Social and Community Lead @starship_eu🌈
Tech nerd and longtime Apple fan. Yep. I'm one of those.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Working as a Nintendo Editor. The website is sadly gone and so is my work, but it taught me a lot.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I love typewriters. I used to own one and would love to have a vintage one, if only for the sounds.
How is social media changing news?
Social media is a minefield as it’s very hard to pick out good stories from bad.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Rory Gilmore. She acted like a spoiled brat but she really knew how to write a story.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be able to report the truth and to be able to spread good news.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I can’t name a specific but I always find anything about pets quite funny.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email as it’s easier to explain ideas.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Word mainly on my trusty Mac Mini.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter.
Who do you wish followed you?
Oh gosh. I’ve always been enamoured with the work of Stephen Fry and his dry wit is so on point.
Why did you become a journalist?
I’ve always enjoyed writing and I always said I’d either write or make films. And so, here we are.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I unfortunately did not have one.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I was proud to write about the accessibility settings for World of Warcraft as it’s been a large part of my life for so long.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Never give up and take what ever pitches you can. You never know what you might enjoy writing about.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Afternoon, between 2-5pm
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Anything to do with music, especially as I lose my hearing.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Anything to do with sport. Sports journalism really isn’t my forte.
What's your favorite drink?
Tea. Best gift would be a giant sack of teabags.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In front of the tv. Im a huge movie lover.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I like newspapers as I enjoy reading about current events.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That only men and children play games. And that accessibility isn’t important in the games industry.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.