What was your first job as a journalist?
Does stuffing the town newspaper count? I first worked in a very small newspaper office putting the grocery store circulars in the weekly.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, we took typing classes at my junior high and high school. My mom was an excellent typist, so we learned earlier, actually.
How is social media changing news?
It has taken all the guardrails off, requiring readers to be more information literate and critical than ever before.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
The Man of Steel.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Story telling. Freedom of information.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email because I can refer back to details and more easily capture the contact's information.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
MS Word always. Brightspot, HubSpot, email, LinkedIn, Otter.ai, MS Teams, pretty basic.
What's your favorite social network?
LinkedIn is my favorite social network because the rules are clear, and I can communicate and keep track of my former colleagues.
Who do you wish followed you?
I'm always tickled when one of our subscribers tells me they've been reading our newsletters.
Why did you become a journalist?
Freedom of information, but I really wanted to be a famous magazine writer in NY when I was very young.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
We didn't have one, but I worked on the high school yearbook and then a community college paper.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
An obituary for a woman who contributed to NASA technology.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Take a grammar and composition course and buy an AP manual.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Morning or any time on email.
