What was your first job as a journalist?
Intern at the Bolton Journal
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Only in a museum.
How is social media changing news?
It's a constant source of new ideas.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Kent Brockman
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To have an interesting life.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Straight to the point, concise, clear and with space for creativity
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Macbook Pro, Audacity, Google, a sound recorder, my iphone, otter.ai
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
The Prime Minister
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I wanted to impact the cultural conversation and have my eyes opened to new perspectives I'd never considered.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
'Is profit a dirty word in Liverpool?' which explored the creeping obsession with ethical business practices amongst the city's leadership.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
If no one will publish your work, make your own platform.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Evenings
What's the best pitch you ever got?
This should only take you about 30 minutes ...
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
10 pages of anything
What's your favorite drink?
That's for me to know...
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Out in the real world finding stories. Or in the garden with a trowel and a cup of tea.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Spectator
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Honestly, couldn't say.
