What was your first job as a journalist?
I worked for The Daily Tar Heel, 2000-01.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. I was trained on a typewriter where you had to manually insert the correction tape. I learned to type 125 wpm on one of those devices
How is social media changing news?
It's all takes and clickbait headlines. It sucks. "Research" is checking some celebrity's likes and unfollows
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Oliver Bateman
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means I write content for money. Sometimes good, sometimes just okay, but always for money.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
E-mail oliver.lee1@gmail.com. Or don't; I'm not your dad
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
The Google apps, the Office apps, InDesign, Premiere, Audacity, Photoshop, Zoom, and more
What's your favorite social network?
My cellphone's address book
Who do you wish followed you?
Nobody. My feed is a mirror reflecting my own best words back at me
Why did you become a journalist?
Initially because I was a dumb kid who wanted to emulate the likes of Tom Wolfe and Hunter Thompson (no longer possible). Now to make $
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No. That was nerd stuff. My electives were "Strength Training" and "Advanced Strength Training."
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My recent Ringer wrestling obituaries are excellent. I'm doing archival research + interviews, then writing 5k words on a 48 hour deadline
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Master several extremely niche subjects. Become the kings of content in those domains. Then learn to write quickly and well.
When's the best time to pitch you?
24/7 as long as you're offering to send me a product to check out.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
"Do you want to write about the smart candle?"
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
"Would you like to try the smart candle?"
What's your favorite drink?
Raw whole milk
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
The home gym in my basement.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I like reading The Ringer, Aeon, UnHerd, and a few other places along those lines
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
It isn't easy to cover these subjects well. But many assume this to be the case because so few writers are "internal" to strength + wrestling
