What was your first job as a journalist?
Reporter, Yorkshire Evening Press
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
Overall, eroding standards, but can also be used responsibly.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To tell the truth, yes really.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I'm not taking pitches at present
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Standard Word for news and features, Scrivener for books.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I wanted to change the bloody world!
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Yorkshire Ripper post-trial coverage; also my first big feature for The Times, about cup and ring markings on stones.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Keep your eyes open in all senses… don't expect too much and observe everything!
When's the best time to pitch you?
I'm not taking pitches at present.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
For a book about the impact of the Beeching cuts.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Too many to mention: from people who haven't taken the trouble to look at the magazine and assume it's based in the Emirates or somewhere...
What's your favorite drink?
Ouzo
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Out and about
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Observer
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That selling stories is easy.
