Trae Bodge
Verified
(She/Her)
As seen in:
TrueTrae,
CNN,
CNN Underscored,
MSN,
MSN Canada,
MSN Québec,
MSN Singapore,
Yahoo Life,
HuffPost,
MSN South Africa,
USA Today
and
Covers:
saving money, shopping, retail landscape, sales, top products, shopping trends, budget-friendly gifts, top products
Doesn't Cover:
kids, babies, pets, events, destinations, restaurants
FLYING THE COOP! Find me @truetrae on IG & Threads instead. Retail, smart shopping & money-saving expert.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Writing budget-living content (very similar to what I write now) for Mainstreet.com.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
yes. They are difficult to type quickly on, but the act of typing on a typewriter is satisfying.
How is social media changing news?
It's becoming harder to tell what's true/real and what's not. We have to do our due diligence!
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Mikael Blomkvist
What does it mean to be a journalist?
For my work, it's about sharing what I've learned and products/services I've vetted in a digestible and engaging way
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
no idea!
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
By email. And if in response to an inquiry I've sent out, the pitch should have everything I've requested.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Microsoft 365, Google Drive, Dropbox, TVEyes, Qwoted, Trello, Grammarly, Vimeo. I'm sure there are more!
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
Everyone who wants to save money!
Why did you become a journalist?
I love finding amazing things (whether it's products or coupon apps) and sharing them with readers
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Not in high school, but in middle school I was a columnist for a non-school-affiliated publication called Kids News (I think!)
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I love them all, but I am always excited to address midlife and parenting
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Layer in another income stream so you can better weather the rollercoaster of journalism.
When's the best time to pitch you?
During work hours (preferably ET).
What's the best pitch you ever got?
I received one recently that was the perfect blend of substance and quirkiness. I let the publicist know how impressed I was!
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
I have some pet peeves, like using the wrong/misspelled name, pitching on weekends, off-topic or demanding pitches. I could go on...
What's your favorite drink?
Old Fashioned or sparkling Rose
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Hanging with friends/family, taking long walks and chatting with friends, or bingeing fashion content on YouTube (on my TV)
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Every day, I peruse a variety, incl The Hustle, Free Press, CNN 5Things, Retail Wire, Money Talks News. And Vanity Fair mag
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That I write about little kids/toys and
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.