What was your first job as a journalist?
My first assignment was a write-up on Stockholm nightlife for a travel guide. Probably always the shortest chapter in any guide to Stockholm.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Love them in theory, but, oh god, the noise would drive me insane. Sounds like gut-punching a washing machine. How did anything get written?
How is social media changing news?
News cycles are much faster and readers have greater appetites for new information. More access yields higher engagement.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Jen Fain from Speedboat by Renata Adler.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
You are the eyes and ears of the public.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email me and let's take it from there.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
A chisel, Carrara marble, and a smile. Kidding! An industrial drum of the blackest coffee and a laptop. That's all you need.
What's your favorite social network?
I love using Instagram tags to sniff out the best hotels, restaurants, and views of a new city before I arrive.
Who do you wish followed you?
Leslie Jordan
Why did you become a journalist?
I'm far too fragile for professional sport.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I did, but I think I was only the cartoonist, sadly.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Any story that helps readers make informed decisions on travel.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Save those receipts, kids.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Morning is always the best but anytime the mood strikes. I'm open!
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I'm a sucker for an underrated destination query. But really, I'm excited to jump on any assignment that helps people make better choices.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I welcome anyone to try and outdo my worst received pitches, by all means.
What's your favorite drink?
It's hard to beat a proper Viennese coffee or a really well made Negroni on a sticky hot afternoon.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Reading with my cat on the sofa.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I love Afar, National Geographic, Monocle, New Eastern Europe, Japanese fashion mags, all sorts of stuff...
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Travel doesn't have to cost a lot. I often spend less on the road than I do in my own city.
