What was your first job as a journalist?
Writing for examiner.com way back in 2009, before it devolved into a fake news mess.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes.
How is social media changing news?
More Viral, Less Veracity.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I wouldn't call her a journalist, but Harriet the Spy.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Telling the truth, no matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Whatever I list will be obsolete by tomorrow, so ask me tomorrow.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
E-mail, please.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Gmail, Instagram, and Microsoft Word
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram. Pictures really are worth a thousand words.
Who do you wish followed you?
You!
Why did you become a journalist?
I almost feel like I didn't have a choice. Writing is an affliction.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I wrote about travel for my high school newspaper, of course!
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Anything that gets even mildly plagiarized by somebody else.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Take editorial criticism, don't write for free, and ask for more money if requested revisions go way over agreed-upon word count.
When's the best time to pitch you?
First thing in the morning, and right after lunch.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
A random offer to visit Mazatlan in October for a culinary festival. Done, and done.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I was once offered a breastmilk pump to test out. I was tempted to take it and say it didn't work.
What's your favorite drink?
Diet Pepsi or an Espresso Martini
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
On a beach or at a bar. Or a beach bar.
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 I render judgments about hotels. Anybody can go to Yelp for that. I'm telling a story.
