What was your first job as a journalist?
Felt like when I was News Editor of The Temple News. But first professional job is a reporter with the Globe Gazette in Mason City, Iowa.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No. At least not seriously.
How is social media changing news?
It's a great tool for great journalists, but also produces awful journalists.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Not really entirely fictional, but Hunter S. Thompson could sure write.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To try your best to report the news. To serve readers. To try and make the mundane sound interesting.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
. You know most people don't have a real argument when that's used.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email. Phone call. Whatever works. Just be specific.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Twitter, a camera, stuff within BLOX. Mostly Twitter.
What's your favorite social network?
Tie. Twitter for news. Facebook to stay in touch with people.
Who do you wish followed you?
More members of the community, AKA readers. They're who I serve.
Why did you become a journalist?
I'm a hack at anything else. And this doesn't feel like work.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yea. It wasn't a good paper though. I wrote a few articles, mainly related to sports.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
"Late student climbed every mountain" (see portfolio) was a pretty good piece of journalism. Maybe not my best, but a great story.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Work hard. Make deadlines. Always be willing to learn.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime. Always looking for opportunities. North Iowa took a shot on me, being an East Coast kid.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
A bunch of good pitches are out there. My editor pitched an opioid series to me here in North Iowa though. That turned out to be decent.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Never a bad pitch. Just might not be newsworthy.
What's your favorite drink?
Beer. I drink too much craft beer.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Hopefully exploring the world in a car, on a bike or on my two feet.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Temple News. The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
We're out to get people. We are here to be fair, and hold people accountable when they need to be.
