Yeru Ebuen
Verified
Covers:
Travel, Current Events, Digital Trends, Fashion, Food, Entertainment, Photography, Lifestyle, Events, Books and Arts
Lifestyle & Features Section Head and Digital Strategist @omanobserver. Also follow me on IG: @yru_here. Foodie. Cinephile. Water-based. Mountain dweller.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I was a radio presenter right after graduation from college.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
The last time was in college. I'd like to own one though. I think writing a book with it makes you more focused to get things done.
How is social media changing news?
Social media changed it massively. Timeliness is crucial. Due to this, it's easy to make mistakes. Social media allow immediate feedback.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Why do they have to be fictional? I'd rather stick to nonfiction ones and Anthony Bourdain's storytelling is definitely missed.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
A journalist performs a crucial role in delivering important information. This is why it is a must to have both training and integrity.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Anything with #Trump on it. I know he's not a clown but for a time, he did entertain the world. He also made people suffer.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
I'd like to receive pitches via email or through DMs on social media. Whatever interests me, I will surely respond back.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I'm a fan of mobile journalism. Other than the Adobe Suite and Microsoft Suite, video editing apps and Canva are my go-to.
What's your favorite social network?
My Instagram is open nearly 16 hours a day. It tops my list next to Linkedin and Facebook.
Who do you wish followed you?
The Pope. The Dalai Lama. Margaret Atwood. Da Vinci. Adele. Many of the historical figures and their historians. Ludlum.
Why did you become a journalist?
Because I love telling stories that matter. And I like these stories to inspire others.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes. I was a reporter. And this carried on into college graduating as an Associate Editor in my final year.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
All stories are important otherwise we won't be telling them. I'm most proud of the ones that inspired communities to make a change.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Do not take the shortcut. Write about things you are passionate about. You are only as good as your last article.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Pitches sent in the morning and at night will definitely get ignored. Anytime between 2 pm to 6 pm will have the likely chance to get picked.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
You and an adventure group of five following the footsteps of the desert Bedouins for three days. The adventure culminating in a deep cave.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
To write about an influencer's experience staying in a hotel or driving a supercar. Or those, 'we didn't invite you but can you print this.'
What's your favorite drink?
A strawberry or passion fruit mocktail. I will also not say no to a good bottle of white wine.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Attending events, interviewing people for the next story or most likely hiking, lounging by the beach, or camping.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
The list is eclectic. New York TImes. The National UAE. Vogue. Discovery. National Geographic. Times. And I do miss Reader's Digest.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That lifestyle and features are easy to do. People see the fun but not the work that goes behind it.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.