Olumuyiwa Olowogboyega
Covers:
Technology in Africa, Politics
Doesn't Cover:
Music and entertainment
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Staff Writer at the Nigerian Blog, Olorisupergal.com
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes I have, but way back in High School
How is social media changing news?
It is changing the immediacy of news as well as who can break the news
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Tom Jumbo-Grumbo from the TV show, "Bojack Horseman"
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Writing the stories people care about, questioning facts and taking yourself to task before forming opinions
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Difficult to remember off the top of my head
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email!
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Google drive, Airtable, my laptop....
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
Tough one but I'd definitely go with Wole Soyinka!
Why did you become a journalist?
I always loved writing and telling stories. It seemed like the natural next step
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes I did. I vaguely remember writing short stories
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I'm super proud to have written a creative non-fiction of my Nigerian Prison experience. It took a lot of courage to do it
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Take the task of building an opinion. Question everything
When's the best time to pitch you?
Regular work hours. 9am-5pm
What's the best pitch you ever got?
None so far
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I can't remember this off the top of my head
What's your favorite drink?
I'd have to say a cold glass of Orange juice
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At my local bar, grabbing a beer
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I'd have to say The Athletic, The Verge and Steve Galloway's Blog
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
"What's to cover about tech in Africa?"
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.