What was your first job as a journalist?
A weekly newspaper owned by the Orange County Register. I was hired before I graduated from college, an exciting event back then!
How is social media changing news?
It's much faster and more erroneous. In order to get the "scoop" reporters don't fact check as they should.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It is a great responsibility to present facts to the public and to tell the truth. The news can shape the world.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter -- I get the most up-to-date news from outlets around the world, something that isn't readily available anywhere else.
Who do you wish followed you?
Bob Woodward...my hero!
Why did you become a journalist?
I saw the movie "All the President's Men" and decided I would love to be a detective holding government accountable -- and get paid to do it!
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
The VA cockroach story because it resulted in a new law to protect veterans at hospitals. This would not have happened without my stories.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't get into this job to get rich, be prepared to work hard and receive rejection on the way to the top. It's like the acting profession.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Any time.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
A VA whistleblower told me cockroaches were being served to patients at a VA hospital. My reports resulted in a new federal law.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Walking my dog along the beach! I love to get outside once in awhile....
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That all reporters are biased. I am more old-school -- I look at the facts and draw a conclusion. I present facts and the reader can decide.
