What was your first job as a journalist?
Film critic on my university newspaper.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, in high school and university. I bought my first computer about six months after my university graduation. I'm old!
How is social media changing news?
People are getting lazier about the way they keep informed, settling for quick bites from social media rather than depth and nuance
What does it mean to be a journalist?
A journalist must have boundless curiosity and the discipline to clearly express facts, opinions and implications.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Short, clear pitches are the best
Why did you become a journalist?
To indulge in my curiosity, my love of language, a desire to help people learn more about the world
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I was the editor of my high school yearbook in my senior year. On my university newspaper, I was entertainment editor, then managing editor.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Get rid of all expectations, no matter what you're covering. And certainly don't expect to earn a fortune.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time - as a freelance, the workday schedule doesn't really apply
What's your favorite drink?
A manhattan
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In a cinema
