What was your first job as a journalist?
National Underwriter division (2010) (now owned by Summit Professional Networks), National Press Club journalist member from 2012
Have you ever used a typewriter?
With carbon paper even. Hard to remember the time before facsimile.
How is social media changing news?
Provides instant access for numerous perspectives, and reader feedback, on articles, as well as wide distribution.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Howard Beale, UBS Broadcasting
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Hours every day of exhaustive research, planning article ideas, editing and re-editing, but when an article gains traction, it's worth it!
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
concept title with 75 word descriptive abstract, must have the takeaway for the reader as the first sentence
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
interviews with industry, government sites and sources, Tax Facts, LexisNexis, Google, Westlaw and Bloomberg Law, other media
What's your favorite social network?
Facebook to keep in touch, LinkedIn to keep informed
Who do you wish followed you?
WSJ, NY Times, Financial Times, Economist, Gannett, and other big media
Why did you become a journalist?
the exhaustive research helps me grow as an academic and professional
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I can't recall that long ago. But I did manage a sponsored law journal in law school that had nationwide distribution.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
Analysis of the IRS FATCA GIIN lists because my analysts and myself are the only ones who did this, and reported it publicly.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
The article must add a take-away value for the reader to attract the reader as a persistent subscriber. Exhaustive research. Call experts!
When's the best time to pitch you?
Between 10:30 am and 12:30pm, after I've had plenty of coffee but before I'm hungry
