What was your first job as a journalist?
I worked freelance for Associated Content, which was eventually bought out by Yahoo and then dismantled completely.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Never
How is social media changing news?
Social media is becoming the news
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Carrie Bradshaw
What does it mean to be a journalist?
A journalist is someone who reports the facts, while also adding conjuncture and criticism where need. Being unbias is crucial.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Nothing comes to mind
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Via email
What's your favorite social network?
TikTok
Who do you wish followed you?
There are so many, but a few of them would be Kirsten Storms, Dorinda Medley, Bette Midler, and John Stamos.
Why did you become a journalist?
It fell into my lap when I was pregnant with my oldest son, and 15 years later, here I am.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I think some of my interviews are my most prized work. From Maurice Benard to Blair Underwood, it's been fun!
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
To stick with it and learn everything you can. Make sure you read style guides and adjust your habits to conform to the site you work with.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Mid-morning until mid-afternoon
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Interviewing Maurice Benard and watching the movie he starred in
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Weird things celebrities eat
What's your favorite drink?
Pepsi Zero with lime
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
I am most likely carting one of my four boys around for sports. We are a soccer, football, and basketball household.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I enjoy reading US Weekly, especially for the celebrity relationship stuff.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That reality TV is a "guilty pleasure." There's nothing to feel guilty about if you truly love watching and writing about it.
