Sharon Edelson
Verified
Forbes senior contributor; former WWD and W magazine senior editor; W special projects; AdAge, AdWeek. BA Boston University, Masters Degree, Journalism NYU
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first job was freelancing for the New York Post's television pages. My first full-time job was as an associate editor at Advertising Age.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I used an electric typewriter as a freelancer. Ad Age had computers. But I learned how to type on a manual typewriter in H.S.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Telling a story accurately with the balance, sensitivity and nuance that it deserves.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, but I did work at my college newspaper, the Boston University Daily Free Press.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A story about the late Brazilian plastic surgeon Ivo Pitanguy for Fame magazine, which is no longer in existence.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Work is always hard, but if you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time is fine. A concise email is preferred. Feel free to follow up.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
A pitch that has no relation to my publications and shows that the sender didn't do the slightest bit of research.
What's your favorite drink?
Decaf caffe latte
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In the kitchen using my new Kitchen Aid mixer to make banana cake.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I enjoy reading the New Yorker's stories about Donald Trump and .Vogue.com's articles about the minutia of Meghan Markle's royal life.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
The retail beat at WWD is not limited to apparel retailers or physical stores. E-tailers, vertical native brands, resale sites are fair game.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
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