Paul Hartley
(He/Him)
Atlanta
Covers:
Commercial aviation, Boeing, Airbus, Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Breeze Airways
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Writing news about single malt whiskeys in Scotland.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
I think its bringing content that might have previously been considered niche into the mainstream.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
None
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be eternally curious
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#NowThatcherIsDead after Margaret Thatcher died. People thought Cher had died.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Way too many
What's your favorite social network?
None
Who do you wish followed you?
Nelson Mandela. Because then it would mean he was still alive.
Why did you become a journalist?
It married two of my greatest passions - writing and aviation.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No I didn't
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The next one that I'm working on.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Build your network
When's the best time to pitch you?
Early morning
What's the best pitch you ever got?
"Come down to the airport and see this now" - I was in the car in 2 minutes.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Too many
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
On a plane
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
One Mile At A Time
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That every little change in aviation is a newsworthy story. There are certain topics that just never perform well with our audience.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.