Paul Vachon
As seen in:
MSN,
Yahoo News,
Yahoo Finance,
Yahoo Finance Singapore,
Detroit Free Press,
Flipboard,
Nasdaq,
Realtor.com,
GOBankingRates,
National Retail Federation (NRF)
and
Covers:
Retailing, business, automotive, urban development, supply chain, history, historic preservation, green living
Doesn't Cover:
Health, technology, parenting
he/him; I'm a freelance writer and author. Voice over acting is also part of my skill set. I also enjoy photographing architecture, nature, and wildlife.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I've always been a freelancer.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, when I was in college.
How is social media changing news?
On the positive side, it can be invaluable in promoting newly written stories. On the negative end, it often helps spread misinformation.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Herman Wouk.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be someone who can help write the first draft of history.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Lightroom.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
Editors at major Michigan publications.
Why did you become a journalist?
I've always loved writing.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, but I was on the yearbook staff.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
"Belle Isle Has Emerged From Neglect, but Its List of Needs is Daunting"
HOUR Detroit, April 2020.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be curious and always open to new experiences. It will make you a better writer.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Afternoon.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Writing copy for a Buick marketing website.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Writing for a real estate website.
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
On my sofa reading a favorite book.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Atlantic.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That cars from Detroit are still of inferior quality.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.