Steven Tobin
Verified
(He/Him)
As seen in:
Chicago Area News,
Apple Podcasts,
Substack,
The Globe and Mail,
The Toronto Star,
Patch,
Spreaker,
Audible Blog,
The Truth About Cars,
NewsBreak,
New America
and
Covers:
Politics, government, world events, local events, the media.
Doesn't Cover:
Entertainment, religion, gossip.
News Stories Galore.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
WRRG 88.9 FM Triton College Radio On-Air Talent
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, lastly about 25 years ago.
How is social media changing news?
Bringing breaking stories fast, but also lots of fake news and opinions.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Murphy Brown
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Speak truth to power, inform the public as to what is going on in the world, holding public officials and corporations accountable.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Fake News
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email is fine, social media contact is fine, calling me can be done as a second method of reaching out.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Adobe Premier, DiVinci, Movie Maker, DVD Cap, various digital cameras, tripod stands, lapel, handheld and yeti mics.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook probably.
Who do you wish followed you?
More of the powers that be, but they don't like the tough questions I have for them.
Why did you become a journalist?
Interested in the field since 7th grade when I won awards for being informed from NBC5. Speaking truth to power and informing people.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
no high school newspaper existed
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Worked with a criminal defense attorney to help find someone not guilty.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Get a degree ASAP and get started early, don't delay and think outside the box.
When's the best time to pitch you?
anytime
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Someone wanting me to pay lots of money for college classes that were remedial in nature to me
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Been offered gigs that are not even close to my related field.
What's your favorite drink?
Water.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In the gym training mma or practicing music, Im also a musician, drums, bass, guitar.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The Week, In These Times, Yahoo news, BBC.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That it's somehow a celebrity gig, it's not, at least not yet.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.