Simon McCarthy
Verified
(He/Him)
As seen in:
Newcastle Herald,
Sydney Morning Herald,
Flipboard,
The Age,
The Sunday Age,
The Canberra Times,
Brisbane Times,
WAtoday,
G2,
Daily Liberal,
Illawarra Mercury
and
Covers:
Breaking and general news, community and regional affairs, feature writing and profiles, subcultures and human interest, news and feature photography and multimedia production.
Journalist writing and taking photos for the Newcastle Herald in NSW.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I was a news and sport reporter for the Glen Innes Examiner, a biweekly newspaper in a brilliant country town in NSW.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Absolutely. My 21st birthday gift from my aunt was the typewriter that she had learnt to type on taking secretarial classes in her 20s.
How is social media changing news?
More than can be described in a few words. In most ways, almost entirely, but the rules of how good news is done are immutable.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
The Newsman from the Muppet News Flash segments.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Shoot me an email with an issue that underlies something that we walk past every day and take for granted.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Rarely go anywhere without a Spirax and ballpoint. Voice notes get an almost daily workout. The Canon 1DX and Adobe for photos.
Who do you wish followed you?
Something about never meeting your heroes ... I'd be worried if mine had so much idle time that they found me, let alone followed!
Why did you become a journalist?
It sounds cliche, but it's true. It's the stories. The real privilege of this job is to hear, and be able to tell, people's stories.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
We did not have a school paper when I was a student, but becoming the editor of my old school's paper is still a career goal.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
For the past few years, I've spent time with the organisers and participants of Mulletfest. Those stories have a special spot for me.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Save every number in your phone with a first & last name at least. Adding notes is even better. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Usually between 11.30am and 1pm.
What's your favorite drink?
Strong coffee with a little bit of sugar in the morning. And then again at 11am. And then sometimes for lunch. I'm not hooked. Not one bit.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I love a second-hand bookshop where the stacks are so crowded that you can get lost in them.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The New Yorker. Particularly the Shouts column. And Marina Hyde in The Guardian.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That journos know things before they happen, or have some inside track on information. Reporters are curious, but sadly not clairvoyant.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.