Piero Castellano
Verified
(He/Him)
As seen in:
Medium,
Ouest France,
La Repubblica,
New Scientist,
VICE,
VICE UK,
Al-Monitor,
Ahval,
Pacific Press Agency,
mediterraneaonline.eu
Covers:
Human Rights, minorities, refugees, gentrification, urban refugees, discrimination, heritage, environment, climate change, lifestyle, travel, food and wine, Mediterranean area, Italy, Balkans, Turkey
Doesn't Cover:
Corporate and Economic news, Glamour or Celebrity news, Sport.
Freelance writer, photographer, traveler, biker, thinker. Former seaman, diver, blogger.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
As a professional it was a story about an outbreak of Leishmaniasis. It was a hit and next I was assigned to cover deaths of asbestos workers
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, I'm old enough, but last time it happened in Turkey in 2012: an office required a typed application. I had to go to an antique shop.
How is social media changing news?
Social media are now the main tool of disinformation, but careful and patient networking makes them crucial. Bluesky might be a game changer
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
E. K. Hornbeck of the "Baltimore Herald"
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To link news, info and events to the wider frame, allowing readers to see possible connections and elaborate on their own.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Via email, with some info about logistics, if possible.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Pc, laptop, smartphone, cameras, microphone. Adobe Lightroom, MS Word, Filezilla, Whatsapp, Google Earth. Gas mask, helmet when needed.
What's your favorite social network?
Definitely Bluesky
Who do you wish followed you?
I like to be followed by people eager to interact about my work and to suggest new angles and ideas.
Why did you become a journalist?
Because my teacher forced me to write in my mid school's paper. Anything else I did in life turned out to be a continuation of that path.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes, I did. Mostly articles and photos about local events.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The story of neglected Afghan refugees in Turkey who stitched their lips in protest, ignored by most of international press.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Always work on something you can be proud of, so that you can ask your work to be valued as much as you value it.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime if the story is good, possibly before things happen. Unless I'm in godforsaken places, I am always reachable via email or Whatsapp.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The proposal to join a group of Yoruk nomads during their seasonal migration.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
"An international event that will attract a huge crowd" in Ankara and I found myself at an Angora cats beauty contest.
What's your favorite drink?
Cubalibre. Non alcoholic hot, cappuccino. Or cold tea.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Either in the streets or in some café meeting people. Not often enough, on my motorbike exploring villages and countryside I haven't seen yet
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
It depends, for breaking news it might be Reuters or CNN, but I rely heavily on outlets focusing on specific regions, like Al-Monitor
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That I'm a daring, camera-holding adventurer, traveling to exotic places, while in reality for each day on the field I spend weeks at the dek
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.