What was your first job as a journalist?
My first time being paid was writing for a publication called Hey Alma. It was super exciting to achieve a paycheck for my writing!
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, and I want to move to a nice apartment in Brooklyn someday and buy one for my own.
How is social media changing news?
For the worse. Politics becomes polarized, and you can selectively tune out opposing opinions. Multiple perspectives are key.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
City correspondent Stefon from Saturday Night Live. This place has everything...
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To move beyond simplistic answers and dig deeper to unearth harder truths.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Emails with exciting subject lines! Be bold and push the envelope!
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Wordpress, Google Docs, Canva, Photoshop
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
Justin Ling and Peter Knegt
Why did you become a journalist?
To help connect people over a shared bond of film, theatre,. and television, and to highlight voices that are otherwise underrepresented.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I began participating in student journalism in university with my student newspaper, The Bull & Bear.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I recently did a piece on HIV/AIDS awareness As a gay man, it is rare that we get to authentically tell our own stories on this topic.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Get involved on your campus newspaper! It's such an easy, low-stakes way to find out if this is an industry that interests you.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time! I am still finishing up my studies at university, so I am more on the ball during the summer and winter holidays.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
To cover comedian Rachel Bloom's performance during the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
To cover a basketball game. I could not be worse at this.
What's your favorite drink?
Mojito
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Running! I am an avid runner, and I've taken part in several 10ks in my life. I also find it helps me manage anxiety and stay creative.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
For general Canadian journalism, I turn to CBC and The Globe and Mail. That being said, Roger Ebert's reviews are also dear to my heart.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Culture writing just means criticizing what's wrong about the media we consume. I think there is also room for celebration of achievement.
