Randy Leonard on Muck Rack

Randy Leonard

Covers:  data, Congress, investigative reporting,
Harnessing AI so we can all live like humans.

Interview

What was your first job as a journalist?

Freelance articles for Baltimore's City Paper.

Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes, as a terrified 3rd-grader who was told he was going to have to type all his school papers the next year. Saved by an Apple IIe.

What does it mean to be a journalist?

To portray what matters in terms as close to reality as we can humanly get.

What tools and software do you use to do your job?

I use geographic information system software to analyze the spatial aspects of data. I highly recommend every journalist look into it.

Why did you become a journalist?

To tell the truth.

What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?

Follow your interests. Ask hard questions. Check everything.

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