What was your first job as a journalist?
I was a reporter at the Jefferson Gazette, a weekly in Ohio. I was reporter, photographer and copy editor.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes.
How is social media changing news?
It's made the news cycle faster. At the same time, its also made the spread of misinformation faster and harder to correct.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Brenda Star
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It's a lot of hard work, long hours and sometimes grief from editors, readers and family. But it can be worth it.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email is the best way to reach me. That way I can take a quick look at the idea.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
A laptop computer, Microsoft Word, a cell phone with a camera, a notebook and pen.
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
The president of the United States. Doesn't matter which party.
Why did you become a journalist?
I enjoy writing and I like reporting on what happens behind the scenes.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
A story about a First Amendment battle between a local resident and the county government.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be prepared to do your own training on new social media programs or technology on your own dime.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mondays and Wednesdays before noon.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I once got an email pitch about how a change in the local minimum wage. It included several links to my stories as proof.
What's your favorite drink?
Red wine
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Playing with my daughter.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The New York Times
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
It's all about fluffy stories about kids doing cute things in school.
