What was your first job as a journalist?
Working for my hometown paper The Citizen.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
When I was about 5 years old.
How is social media changing news?
It makes it faster to share news, and allows readers to interact more directly with reporters.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Ron Burgundy.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means being honest and responsible to your readership.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Twitter, Facebook, Google Fusion, Scribble Live and CMS. I am also working on adding programing.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter.
Who do you wish followed you?
Steve Martin.
Why did you become a journalist?
To tell other people's stories and to help residents stay connected with important issues going on in their communities.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No. It did not have a paper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My investigative pieces, many of which involved several months of work . This includes story on a corrupt town judge or lax day care in Iowa.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Read daily and keep up with changes in technology.
