What was your first job as a journalist?
Purdue University Exponent newspaper.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. Way back in the day I had a brand spankin'new electric typewriter that I thought was the bomb.
How is social media changing news?
SM makes news more abrupt, less detailed, and often misleading or outright wrong but far more accessible than in the past.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Frank Bascombe from Richard Ford's novels.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
---means cutting out the noise and believing in objectivity and honesty. Putting art and style to information. Wordsmithery.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
: I once got a text from my mom where "You're amazing" was autocorrected to "You're adopted"
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Please use my Gmail (russell.brickey@gmail.com). I am happy to field any ideas.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Office suite.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook (I'm old school that way. But seriously, if you really want to know something about someone, FB).
Who do you wish followed you?
Editors working for arts magazines.
Why did you become a journalist?
Compulsion to write. Fascination with the industry. Admiration of great journalists.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes. News and feature writer and then feature editor.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
“A Flair for the Scare”: Inside Ohio’s Nationally Ranked Haunted Hoochie. Took a lot of work.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't be shy about approaching local editors. Sooner or later they will probably have a project for you.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime. I stay up pretty late too.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
N/A
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
N/A
What's your favorite drink?
Double espresso, one shot of cream.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Walking the dogs in a park, playing the fiddle, driving my wife fun places.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Atlantic and ProPublica.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
The board of trustees meetings are boring.
