What was your first job as a journalist?
Self-published for my own website, Torquing Cars.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, but briefly in my youth.
How is social media changing news?
It's making news superficial and making it harder to convey accurate facts in a world where people base opinions on clickbait headlines.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
J. Jonah Jameson
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Integrity and honesty. Your words have the ability to shape opinions - this is both a privilege and a responsibility.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Emails, please.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
A keyboard, an internet connection, and coffee. Mostly Google Docs, though.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
Jason Cammisa, Henry Catchpole, Christian von Koenigsegg, and Mate Rimac.
Why did you become a journalist?
To break down misconceptions surrounding brand bias in the automotive world.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I did. I was a reporter and assisted with photography and graphic design elements.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A recent piece on a little-known Porsche restomod specialist in South Africa by the name of Dutchmann.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Work hard. The phrase "not my job" should never be in your repertoire. And never take for granted the privilege this life affords you.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mid-day, when the coffee has kicked in and I've dealt with the most of my admin.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
"How would you like to interview Christian von Koenigsegg tomorrow?"
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Any that nagged me in half a dozen witty emails.
What's your favorite drink?
Nothing better than a well-made cappuccino.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Behind the wheel of one of my two Mazda MX-5s, hopefully on a race track.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Top Gear
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
It's all about driving fancy cars. It's not - most of the job is hard work researching and writing.
