What was your first job as a journalist?
My high school paper, the Charger Account at Leland High School in San Jose, California.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Oy, this is a good way to age me! I believe most of my college applications were filled out on a typewriter.
How is social media changing news?
As journalists, we have more of a responsibility of funneling through social media and crowd-sourced content for the truth.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Does Harriet the Spy count? :)
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Always working in service of the reader, with an empathetic drive for the truth.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I'd love an email pitch—the morning is usually the best.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Laptop and phone.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
I'm grateful to anyone who follows. :)
Why did you become a journalist?
With so much information being thrown at in our every day lives, I want to help readers cess out the truth and what matters.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes, I was a writer, but also a photographer.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
An upcoming United Hemispheres' cover story, which will hit seatback pockets in January 2024.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't let one rejection get you down—it's not just skills and networking, it's timing too. What doesn't work today, could be a hit tomorrow.
When's the best time to pitch you?
The morning is preferable.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
One that was customized specifically to my background, merging entertainment and travel, while understanding the experiences that drive me.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Ever since I listed the subjects I don't cover on MuckRack, I tend to get more pitches for those topics.
What's your favorite drink?
Taiwanese ai-yu drinks
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Waiting outside in line for something that's trending... whether it's steak frites in Paris or the SNL standby line in NYC.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Condé Nast Traveler, Travel
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Travel is a privilege, no doubt... but when we're traveling for work (or at all), it's typically not a "vacation."
