Thomas J. Brown
As seen in:
Cell Press,
Hidden Remote,
Call to the Pen,
Hoops Habit,
Last Word On Sports,
The Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology,
The Dartmouth,
Busting Brackets,
Sir Charles in Charge,
World in Sport
and
Covers:
NBA, NFL, MLB, NCAAF, Pro Boxing
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
A local rock band asked me to write an article about their debut performance at a small pub.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
I had a typewriter when I was a kid. I used to type up fake articles about my favorite teams after watching a big game.
How is social media changing news?
Social media has made news readily available to everyone in the world 24 hours a day.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
My favorite fictional journalist is Clark Kent. He turns into a superhero and saves the day whenever there's trouble. How cool is that?
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Being a journalist means you are expressing your views on an important topic. You're engaging in an ongoing conversation with the masses.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I prefer to be pitched via email.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I use Grammarly to check every article using before I submit them.
What's your favorite social network?
LinkedIn
Who do you wish followed you?
One of my favorite people in the industry is ESPN's Michael Wilbon. If he followed me, that would be a huge compliment.
Why did you become a journalist?
I have always loved sports and I've always loved literature in general. Being a sports journalist is a great combination of my two passions.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I was an athlete in high school, so I didn't write for the school paper. I thought it would have been too much to juggle.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I'm proud of the story I wrote about Mariano Rivera's last game at Yankee Stadium.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Always stay true to yourself.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I can look at a pitch in my email at any time of day. I understand that news doesn't stop. I'm ready to cover a breaking story at all times.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I'm very likely to be at the gym when I'm not at my computer. I am a big proponent of healthy living, and I love to work out.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
As a kid I used to buy the basketball publication, SLAM magazine, every time it came out. I still visit their website several times a week.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.