Sally Blyth
(She/Her)
- Writer and Creative
Auckland
As seen in:
Stuff.co.nz,
New Zealand Herald,
The Post (Wellington),
The Press (New Zealand),
The Waikato Times,
Destinations Magazine
Covers:
Travel, opinion, lifestyle, horse racing, community, creativity, humanities, events, personalities
Doesn't Cover:
Am open to most things but don't cover the realm of finance, business and economics.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Soliciting and writing articles about sexual health & reproduction in Europe.- 1980s
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Absolutely! A genius machine that helped me put words on paper. Today I type faster than I can think!
How is social media changing news?
Sensational headlines and misleading taglines draw people in but often disappoint. Bring back authenticity and real anticipation!
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
No favorites. Everyone has their merits. I give everyone the time of day and learn something from every piece I read.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Constant observation/absorption of life, having confidence to provoke in-depth thinking, challenge the norm, and share stories galore.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I don't keep a log - I'll flick in and out and move on. I have travel stories to write!
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Turning potential negatives into positives. How the past impacts the future. With an eye on what hasn't been spotted yet. Outside the box!
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Laptop, Word - tap tap, edit, re-edit, till happy. Notes on the road to capture the moments and write up the full story in Word
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook - but nothing beats going to someone's home or ringing them up and interacting with them personally. That's real social behaviour!
Who do you wish followed you?
Those with sharp enquiring minds who can read between the lines and don't get taken in by BS.
Why did you become a journalist?
I've loved words, languages and writing since I was a kid. Sharing is in my nature, stories are part of my world.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
We didn't have one, otherwise I would have. Wished I'd started one!
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Working on three books - lifestyle, youth fiction, young adult fiction. If any are published, I'll be ecstatic.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Observe, absorb, don't miss a trick. Hone language skills. Don't be content with "good enough" - make your writing excellent and exceptional.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time! I'm available all the time!
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Visit Morocco, stay in a fantastic riad and do a cooking lesson. Oh, and 5-star Shanghai, and skiing in Japan and a taste of Madrid!
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Worst isn't in my vocab - I haven't had a bad pitch!
What's your favorite drink?
Wine - white, rose, red. In the spirit realm - gotta be bourbon. Galliano finds its way into most of my cooking concoctions! Water every day.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In my studio, travelling the world, creating concoctions, catching up with friends, or walking along Omaha Beach to gather inspiration.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Anything with a travel story, horseracing tale or authentic real-life account to tell. I'm into reality!
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Travel writing is not a life of freebies and first class - and there is nothing simple or quick about writing an engaging travel story.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.