What was your first job as a journalist?
Pikeville Bureau Chief for the Williamson (W.Va.) Daily News
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Not professionally, although some Mac computers I've used in my time in the news business could be considered only word processors.
How is social media changing news?
For good, when basic journalistic principles are applied. For bad, when getting it first trumps getting it right.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Augustus Haynes from "The Wire"
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To be the eyes, ears and voice of the community you serve and to inform the public of what's going on around them.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I've honest not used Twitter for long, but was a pretty funny one.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
It depends on the type of story. For an in-depth piece, I like to speak directly to the person pitching, but an email is enough for most.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Mac computers, QuarxXPress, Evernote, Google Drive, Photoshop
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Why did you become a journalist?
Because it's one of the few jobs I have actually enjoyed doing.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
There are so many on which I look back with pride, but any story that has been strong enough for readers to thank me for informing them.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Never, ever assume you know anything, even down to the spelling of an interview subject's name.
