What was your first job as a journalist?
I wrote for a news blog called Federal Character
Have you ever used a typewriter?
No.
How is social media changing news?
Social media has made news more immediate but also more personal, viral, and potentially less reliable compared to traditional news consumption and distribution methods. Both opportunities and challenges have emerged.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
I can't choose.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Telling people's stories. At the core, journalism is about shedding light on important issues through compelling storytelling that informs and engages audiences.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I can't remember at the moment
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
When pitching a story idea to me, provide an intriguing hook upfront to grab my attention, highlight any unique angles or timely relevance that sets it apart, summarize your key reporting and findings to date to demonstrate substance, and connect it to important current discussions. Feel free to offer a follow up call or meeting if needed to further develop the idea interactively. My goal is to understand if the concept is compelling and newsworthy enough to warrant pursuing as told - clear and focused pitches on the idea itself tend to be most effective.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Substack, Google Workspace, Asana, Excel, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Slack, WPS
What's your favorite social network?
X
Who do you wish followed you?
uhm, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie?
Why did you become a journalist?
Telling people's stories in an accurate, fair and compelling way is really meaningful to me. I believe journalism can help different communities understand each other better and find common ground.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I did not.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
How UV Nail Dryers may cause skin cancer
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
The key is gaining experience anywhere you can while continually developing your skills, building your network, and remaining passionate about quality journalism. Hard work and perseverance are essential to breaking into the competitive field.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Preferably mornings. But, nighttime works just fine
What's the best pitch you ever got?
To write the tech column for a news blog
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
To work for a gossip blog
What's your favorite drink?
Water
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In a book. Reading stories.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Zikoko
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That I write gossip?
