What was your first job as a journalist?
Reporter
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, as a paperweight
How is social media changing news?
Rapidly
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Jimmy Olsen
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Get up, every day, and tell people something they didn't know
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email, then I'll call you
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Many. But I find a recorder works
What's your favorite social network?
"Favourite" is too strong, but I use Twitter constantly
Who do you wish followed you?
Journalism today involves working long hours for low pay and you're mostly reviled for it. It's not for everyone
Why did you become a journalist?
I still believe we have a role to play in helping people understand what's going on
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
My high school barely had a cafeteria, let alone a newspaper
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Anything I've done that's made powerful people feel scrutinized
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be fully aware of what you're letting yourselves in for
When's the best time to pitch you?
Ideally before your embargo
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The pitch is no good without the story to back it up
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
It began: "Dear David, I know that (competitor's name) would be interested in covering..." and deteriorated from there
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee. Always coffee.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Walking the dog
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I read plenty, but more important - and more important for journalists - I subscribe to many news outlets. Journos should support journos!
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That it's all doom and gloom. It is *mainly* doom and gloom
