What was your first job as a journalist?
I worked at the Mizzou college newspaper, The Maneater, as a reporter and a receptionist.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes! My grandfather had one in an upstairs room in their home in a small Nebraska town, and I used it for creative writing as a kid.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Stephen Glass from the film "Shattered Glass"...oh wait that really happened
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being a journalist means telling a story from ALL sides, not both sides, and being relentless in pursuit of the facts.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email, with a personal note about why you are contacting me specifically to write this story.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
LinkedIn, Google Docs, Word...nothing fancy.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
Content marketing managers at companies I admire! Crate and Barrel, Hanna Andersson, Mint, Realtor.com, Airbnb, Strider Bike, Hipcamp, etc.
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I am an endlessly curious person who loves to hear people talk about what they love to do and care about.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes! I was a reporter for it before I was even in the class because I pitched them a story! Later, I was the features editor.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
There are many, but one that comes to mind is my piece for PM Network about the rebuilding of Sandy Hook Elementary.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
A good journalist can become interested in absolutely anything.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Weekdays
What's the best pitch you ever got?
"Hey, your editor X says you're great, will you write for us, too?"
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Anything that's a topic and not a story, or that asks me to "write about this product" with no angle at all.
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Thrifting!
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The New York Times
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That B2B writing is dry and boring because it's not consumer-facing.
