Nick Powell
Verified
Editorial writer @ChronOpinion @HoustonChron. Pulitzer finalist. New Yorker. Tips: nick.powell@chron.com
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Phawker.com, a Philadelphia-based news blog where I covered City Hall and the City Council, as well as the 2008 election.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Sadly, no.
How is social media changing news?
The advent of the 24-hour news cycle, so people have a shorter memory, but it's also revolutionizing the way news is delivered.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Tintin, no question.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means I am overly self-critical and I don't get a lot of sleep. But it's also a lot of fun
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Tough one. Probably #InvisibleObama after the Clint Eastwood RNC chair debacle.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
In person or on the phone. If it's a worthwhile story, I want all the facts and to be able to ask you as many questions as possible.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Word, Chrome, Twitter. That's about it. Pretty basic.
What's your favorite social network?
I used to be fundamentally against Twitter and everything it stood for, now I check my timeline and feed multiple times per day.
Who do you wish followed you?
Bill Simmons
Why did you become a journalist?
It's a way for me to hone my writing skills, while also enhancing my worldview and hopefully my readers' as well.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
My high school didn't have a paper, but I did take a journalism class that I did quite well in.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My cover story on the legal saga of former New York state Senator Joe Bruno. I took a contrarian position and backed it up with facts.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Make yourself a jack-of-all-trades and cover a wide variety of topics. Even if it means working for a pittance (or for free),
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.