What was your first job as a journalist?
My start in this industry goes back to the disciplined world of trade journalism, writing for titles like National Jeweler, JCK, and InStore. That was my training ground in technical accuracy; in those industries, if you get a detail wrong, it isn't just a typo—it’s a hit to someone's livelihood. It taught me that the 'click' of the keys has to be backed by verifiable facts.
From there, I moved into more permanent records, authoring two books where I could really stretch out into the deep-dive historical analysis I value. I even narrated the Audible versions of those works myself. There’s a certain weight to speaking your own research into the record; it’s a form of narration that ensures the 'inquisitive soul' of the story isn't lost in translation. Whether I was documenting the precision of a gemstone or the engineering of a Corvette, the mission hasn't changed: I’m here to build an archive that stands up to scrutiny.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I didn't just use a typewriter; I learned the discipline of the craft on one. I started out in high school writing on a Royal manual, and I still keep one on display in my office as a reminder that every word should carry weight. From there, my journey through the 'data era' included typing on keyboards that punched holes into paper data cards—the literal foundation of the digital world we now navigate.
Even today, I refuse to settle for the 'mushy' feedback of standard tech. I use a Cooler Master MasterKeys MK750 Mechanical Keyboard with Cherry MX Switches. It’s built for the 'battlefield' of modern journalism, providing the responsiveness and durability I need for a deep-dives. Some call it old-school, but I still need to hear that 'click' to know the truth has been recorded. Truth be told, I've only had two keyboards in the past 15 years and millions of keystrokes later.
How is social media changing news?
Social media has turned news into a high-speed 'answer engine' where depth is often traded for a quick hit. For most, it's a dual-threat battlefield: AI-driven summaries are diverting readers before they ever click a link, while 'personality-led' influencers are outpacing traditional brands in sheer reach.
As I see it, this fragmentation means our audience is scattered across specialized feeds, newsletters, and video platforms like YouTube and TikTok. But while everyone else is chasing viral 15-second clips, I see it as an opportunity to stand out. People are exhausted by unpolished 'rage bait' and AI slop. In the end, "Human in the Loop" reporting will always be foundation of truth if we don't give in, if we don't lose our voice. We have to keep that mechanical "click" of the typewriter alive in every digital word we publish.
