What was your first job as a journalist?
On the school newspaper in junior high.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes! I spent an entire year (2008) without technology while living in Silicon Valley.
How is social media changing news?
I like that is allows a two-way street for journalists to connect with their readers.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
A.J. Jacobs
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being an objective observer telling someone's story
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email sharaelkolberg@gmail.com
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Photoshop, MS Word, Gmail, Internet.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook
Who do you wish followed you?
John Krakauer, Jimmy Chin
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I love telling people's stories.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, I was on student government instead.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Interviewing the father of (email) SPAM
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep pitching. Make sure your pitch is a good fit for the publication.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Most expensive hotels in the world.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Best places to cheat on your bachelorette party.
What's your favorite drink?
Sparkling water with lemon
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Hiking
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Travel + Leisure magazine.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That travel writing is all luxury. It's still a lot of work.
