Rebecca Renner
Verified
As seen in:
National Geographic,
Forge,
Medium,
MSN,
OneZero,
The New York Times,
Yahoo Life,
Bloomberg CityLab,
Bloomberg News,
Post Everything (The Washington Post),
The Guardian
and
Covers:
Science, environment, climate, politics, health, psychology, social justice, culture
Doesn't Cover:
self-published books
Journalist, Novelist, Floridian 🐊 GATOR COUNTRY out 11/14 from @FlatironBooks 🐊 other words @NatGeo @OutsideMagazine @NYTimes; rep: Julia Eagleton
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I briefly worked at a trade magazine before setting out on my own. I haven't looked back since!
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, but they're too loud and percussive. I prefer my MacBook.
How is social media changing news?
Social media is making it easier to get in touch with people experiencing the news. It's an equalizer and a connecter.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Zoe Barnes from House of Cards
What does it mean to be a journalist?
You're a storyteller. You find the important stories and you spread them.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#SecondCivilWar was hilarious.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email only, unless we know each other, then in person is fine.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Cellphone + MacBook + Pen & Paper = All I need!
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter! I'm obsessed.
Who do you wish followed you?
Serious answer: all the editors of the important newspapers and magazines. Fun answer: Mindy Kaling & Reese Witherspoon.
Why did you become a journalist?
I love writing, talking to people and telling their stories.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Ha! No. I did stage manage several theatrical productions though.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I'm working on a book about neuroscience and memory. I'll be proudest of that when it's done.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Follow your passion. Talk to people who are excited about their work. That's where you will find your stories.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Send me something at night so it's sitting in my inbox in the morning.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The best book pitches I get reference things I've already written.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Bad pitches aren't memorable enough to write about.
What's your favorite drink?
I have a terrible addiction to Diet Coke.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I love being outside — or in a bookstore!
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The New York Times, The New Yorker, Buzzfeed — I write for all my other favorites!
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Many people seem to think that books writers buy all the books they read. I would be so poor if that was true.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.