Robert Jellison
Los Angeles, Reston, Taipei
Covers:
The gig economy, personal finance, internet culture, and the state of online media.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
It wasn't exactly journalism, but I hopped into the writing-for-money world by serving as the editor for a content mill (Compose.ly).
Have you ever used a typewriter?
There's a typewriter hanging _ut in my study right n_w. I d_n't use it much, th_ugh, since the "_" key is br_ken.
How is social media changing news?
It's removing the barriers between journalists and the public, which is great, but the social media cacophony is bad for nuanced reporting.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Spider Jerusalem, naturellement.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Getting at the essential truth of a story and presenting it as clearly as you can to the best of your abilities and judgment.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
A voice recorder and a word processor. Keep it simple, keep it classic.
Why did you become a journalist?
For the money, naturally. Most lucrative profession in the world. (No, I love writing and love stories.)
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes, I submitted sarcastic reviews of obscure video games and music way past the deadline.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
There are interesting stories to tell in every beat, even ones that aren't that glamorous. Learn to be a curious person; you'll find them.
When's the best time to pitch you?
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, when the world seems to shine like you had too much wine. (Pitch me whenever, really!)
What's your favorite drink?
Tea—but I'm a snob about it, so I drink more coffee. Bad tea is an atrocity, whereas bad coffee is almost nostalgic (reminds me of college).
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Realistically, no more than a couple meters away from a computer.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The big names—WSJ, NYT, etc.—and a handful of scrappy Substacks. When I'm in Taiwan, I'll sometimes pick up a copy of the Taipei Times.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
On the gig economy: that most young people engage in it because they're "more entrepreneurial." Bluntly, they just need money!
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