As a writer and a journalist, I value integrity above all else. Sure, I enjoy the opportunity to write about subjects I care about. I love conducting interviews with interesting people, learning new facts that surprise me, and sharing my findings with the world. But in this era of “fake news” and persistent gaslighting from the highest powers, I also think it’s important for journalists to speak truth to power and hold those above us accountable not only to us, but the people we both serve.

I first got into journalism because I love stories. When I was a kid, I always sat in the back of the classroom so I could hide a book under my desk during “boring” subjects — which might explain why I’m still so bad at math. I devoured our classroom libraries and every summer provided an opportunity to work my way through our local branch’s collection. As soon as I learned to write, I knew I wanted to share stories of my own, someday.

I still want that. That drive to learn something and pass it along continues to power my work, every day. But I also want to help make this world of ours a better place, along the way. So as a journalist, I try to keep the social justice side of the job in mind. Doctors take an oath to “first, do no harm.” We should, too. The pen (or, more often, keyboard) is a powerful weapon. I don’t take that lightly, and I think it’s important to keep in mind the damage incorrect facts, inattention to detail, and even sloppy editing can do.

I do my best to write stories that examine the heart of the matter at hand, illuminate as many sides of an issue as possible, and serve no agenda but spreading light into the dark corners where corruption hides. I believe in challenging my own assumptions, whether I’m writing about my favorite meal prep technique (read: none) or why we can all use financial planners, even if we don’t have two nickels to rub together.

And I believe in a strict, diligent editorial process. Since I’ve worked as both an editor and a reporter (sometimes at the same time), I value that relationship, and I think there’s still a place for copyediting and fact-checking, even in this digital age. I’m dedicated to putting out fast, clean content without compromising on quality, and I want to work with colleagues who hold those standards in the same regard that I do.

That doesn’t mean all writing has to be Serious Journalism. I love covering food and beverages because what we dine on brings us together, as people. And I’m excited about covering travel because exploring new cultures helps me more deeply understand my own. Entertainment plays just as important a role in our society as uncovering systemic injustice. All work and no play will drive us all into an early grave. I work hard, and I play hard, sometimes at the same time. For me, that balance is tantamount.

As of this writing, I’m seeking full-time employment in an editorial context. I’ve been working as a lifestyle writer for the past 10 months, covering largely food, travel, and culture-related topics. In addition, I’ve also freelanced regularly for The New York Times, Boro Magazine, and The Spruce, while writing occasionally for Bon Appetit, Whisky Advocate, Ploughshares, and Edible Queens. My clips can be found in the menus above.

I’d love to find a new home as an editor or reporter, but I’m open to auxiliary fields, as well. My expertise lies largely in food, beverages, travel, and culture but I’ve also spent quite a bit of time covering local and breaking news and in service journalism, so I’m open to those fields, as well.

Working as a journalist in this day and age is an exercise in flexibility, and I’m nothing if not adaptable. If you’ve read this far and have any leads on positions, I’d love to hear from you. If not, thanks for reading my little journalism manifesto. Let’s all keep fighting fake news, together.