Steven Adams
Verified- West Virginia State Government Reporter, The Journal
- West Virginia State Government Reporter, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
- West Virginia State Government Reporter, The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register
Charleston
As seen in:
The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register,
The Journal,
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel,
U.S. News and World Report,
Miami Herald,
Benzinga,
Lexington Herald-Leader,
The Citizen (South Africa),
Wichita Eagle,
San Luis Obispo Tribune,
NewsBreak,
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer,
Daily Herald (Provo Utah)
and
Covers:
West Virginia, politics, government, statehouse, Congress, elections, public policy, energy, broadband, economic development, courts, legal, investigative
WV state gov. reporter/columnist for Ogden Newspapers. News tips: 304-485-1891 Ext. 215, sadams@newsandsentinel.com. "Entertainingly cranky." - @DaveWilsonMN
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
First paying gig? My college newspaper.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Owned? Yes. Used? Not since middle school.
How is social media changing news?
For the worse.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Spider Jerusalem.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Covering issues as fairly as possible despite my personal feelings on any given subject or issue.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
None. I hate hashtags. They are outdated and not useful anymore.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft Word and Excel, Temi, MacBook Air, iPhone 11, Olympus digital recorder, Zoom P4 portable podcast recorder, Adobe Audition, Tableau.
What's your favorite social network?
Most used? Twitter, but it's not my favorite.
Who do you wish followed you?
Shrug
Why did you become a journalist?
A long-time interest in news, history, politics, and current events
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I was a columnist and a co-opinion editor.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My SantaGate series, when a local prosecutor was found dismissing serious misdemeanors for certain individuals in exchange for cash donations
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't go to journalism school or don't major in journalism. Focus on a specific interest and take some journalism courses.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Morning.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Probably the first pitch that led to the SantaGate series.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Any pitch that involves something outside the state of West Virginia.
What's your favorite drink?
Jack and diet.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Coffeeshop, library, or back porch.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
WV MetroNews, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Dispatch.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Most people think I'm based at my individual papers when I'm based in our state capitol.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.