What was your first job as a journalist?
Interviewing music critic Peter Goddard about Roy Orbison who had recently died at the time.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes. I took typing classes in high school at the bequest of my parents who I thought were crazy! Very helpful still today.
How is social media changing news?
Social media is dumbing down the quality of news.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I admire the journalists depicted in Spotlight and All the President's Men but they are based on real people.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
A journalist should always put the story front and centre and minimize his/her presence as much as possible.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Have to admit I do not spend much time looking at
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email is best and be concise and upfront especially when it comes to commission fee.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Audacity. Word. Excel. Sony mini digital audio recorder. Samsung Galaxy. Pen. Paper. Zenbook Pro. And listening to music!
What's your favorite social network?
LinkedIn
Who do you wish followed you?
Somehow I feel the answer will incriminate me so best left unsaid!
Why did you become a journalist?
To tell stories that expand knowledge of people in a constructive, intelligent and entertaining way.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes, I did. I interviewed musicians and media personalities.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Getting to interview my favourite filmmaker Peter Weir is a career hightlight as it took 11 years to orchestrate!
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Research. Curiosity. Listen. Perservence. Egoless. Curtious. Respectul. Adaptable.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Late morning to midday.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
An idea of doing a 10 year anniversary on Marvel Studios which got expanded into something much bigger and better.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Can't remember which means it must have been so bad that I blanked it out!
What's your favorite drink?
Beer and wine. Not necessarily together!
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Exercising or cooking!
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Dark Horizons and The Hollywood Reporter.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That what I do is simply homework. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into researching, orchestrating, and writing articles.
