What was your first job as a journalist?
Reporter for varsity newspaper. Campus radio DJ.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Before my time.
How is social media changing news?
It's becoming the news.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Tintin.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Listening, learning.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I generally pitch my own, but get pitched breaking stories ad hoc.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Coffee, Macbook Pro, iPhone, voice recorder.
What's your favorite social network?
For work? Twitter.
Who do you wish followed you?
Ricky Gervais.
Why did you become a journalist?
For the fame and riches.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yup, as a sub.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
All of them.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Work harder and be better than anyone else.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Day before.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I'm not a 'best of' kinda guy.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Do a profile on a law firm in order to secure advertising from them.
What's your favorite drink?
Single malt whisky, G&T a close second.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In the kitchen.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Times Select, anything on science, tech and music.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That anyone can do what I do.
