Sophie McCarthy
As seen in:
EIN News,
SmartCompany (Australia),
Punktastic,
Voice Magazine (United Kingdom),
Zephyrnet,
The Honey POP,
Hotspawn
Covers:
Music (all genres), Theatre & The Arts, Current Affairs, Creative Industries
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Ghostwriting at a boutique PR agency for one of their artists - from then on I was hooked and wanted to branch out with my own voice.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes! My grandfather has one hidden in his attic and it was lovely and novel for an hour but after that I craved the luxury of a delete button
How is social media changing news?
It's working in two distinct ways. It's making news much more accessible which is a great thing but it has also become harder to find the truth.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Not technically a journalist, but Mr Utterson in Jekyll & Hyde purely due to his 'If he shall be Mr Hyde, I shall be Mr Seek' quote.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To speak yours and other people's truths.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
By a mile, it would be Trump's team booking The Four Seasons Landscaping site, not the hotel chain they thought it was.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Just send me an email and I'll do my best to get back to you as soon as possible!
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Google Docs, Notes App, Adobe, Dropbox and a Canon DSLR
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter, 100% I just love posting nonsense about my day on there
Who do you wish followed you?
David Attenborough...or Harry Styles.
Why did you become a journalist?
I realised I didn't want to be ghostwriting an artist's column so just started typing away about music I loved!
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I didn't, simply because we didn't have one!
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My time at West End Live was 100mph all weekend but it also taught me so much so I'd go with it for that reason alone
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Just start writing. The more you write, the better you'll get and that's when the right people will begin to notice you.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Not first thing in the morning! I'm a late riser so it'll likely get lost in my inbox.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Like before, I am also sworn to secrecy...
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I am sworn to secrecy...
What's your favorite drink?
Either a good glass of wine or whiskey on the rocks!
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Either coaching synchronised swimming or on my allotment!
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
For music, I'm a big fan of Rock Sound and Kerrang but for everyday news, I normally read up on Sky News.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That we're all best mates with the artists we write about, even if I sometimes wish it were true
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.