P. Aiden Hunt
Verified
(He/Him)
Covers:
General: cannabis policy news, activism, and profiles of significant figures in cannabis legalization. Current: social equity in cannabis, celebrities helping to normalize cannabis use.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I wrote cigar reviews for $10/piece when I was younger, but my first serious attempt was Hemp Connoisseur Magazine, in 2014.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Rory Gilmore. I grew up on Gilmore Girls.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means to focus on important topics, to gather the facts from reliable sources, and to present what you find honestly and accurately.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
A paragraph or two by email, with quotable sources. I rarely write stories based on press releases.
What's your favorite social network?
I've probably gotten the most professional benefit out of LinkedIn, but I favor Facebook for connecting with people through posts or groups.
Why did you become a journalist?
I've been a creative writer since childhood. When I started medical cannabis in 2013, it led to activism, which led to journalism.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Learn to find the newsworthy story in everything you do and always have at least 3 pitches in mind. Opportunity can be unexpected.
When's the best time to pitch you?
For finished pieces to share on my feed, between 6am and 10am EST. Any time of the day by email is fine for everything else.
What's your favorite drink?
I have a glass of dry red wine on occasion, but I mostly lost interest in alcohol since starting medical cannabis use 8 years ago.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Reading, playing with my mother's dog, or helping my aging parents.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Atlantic Monthly, The Paris Review, or the Washington Post, depending on my mood.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.