Dan Petrella
Verified
As seen in:
Chicago Tribune,
MSN,
Scribd,
Yahoo Canada,
Yahoo News,
Aol,
New York Daily News,
Yahoo Finance,
Chicago Tribune En Español,
Naperville Sun,
The Beacon News
and
Covers:
public safety, environmental issues, k-12 education, public records, business development, politics, local government, growth, technology
Political writer @chicagotribune. @MediaAtIllinois alum. Former @sjrbreaking, @LeeEntNews Springfield bureau & @ChiTribBiz. Tips: dpetrella@chicagotribune.com
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first full-time job was covering Riverside, Ill., for a semi-weekly called Suburban Life.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I used to use one all the time in grade school.
How is social media changing news?
It adds to the immediacy of information, which is incredibly powerful, but it also increases the chances of getting things wrong.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Currently, L.P. Everett from "Treme"
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To seek the truth and share it with others.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Documents (especially spreadsheets), Google Fusion Tables, among others
What's your favorite social network?
For journalism, Twitter. For keeping up with friends, Facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I love writing and telling stories, and because I'm a strong believer in the importance of a free press in a democracy.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I was a general assignment reporter for Skyline my senior year at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Ill.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A story I did about Safe Haven, a group of homeless people in Champaign, Ill., that tried to establish a self-governing community
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
If you want to be a journalist, get real-world experience as early as possible.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime by email
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.