As a veteran journalist, I am often asked what single quality is most needed for my job. While hard to narrow to one, “curiosity” ranks high as does “observant.”

Journalism can be creative, but it is not creative writing. At its best, you are telling someone’s story. Not your own. The first thing I need to tell is “Who/What?’ If I’m not interested in exploring the “Who/What” then “Where and Why” aren’t going to follow easily. The “Result” doesn’t always happen, but when it does, it’s very satisfying.

My career began in high school, morphing in college from a terrible artist to a fairly knowledgeable art reporter. Art led to beauty, beauty to fashion, fashion to features, features to travel. It’s taken me from New Orleans to New York and back…now, my beat is the world. And the art training still comes in handy. I want my readers to “see, feel and smell” the story through words and photographs.

II love what I do. Can’t think of a more fulfilling profession. It’s given me opportunities, experiences and access no money can buy. I’ve been blessed by a Pope and the Dalai Lama in the same week. Worked in Paris, Milan and New York. Traveled to India, Botswana and Burma. And been fortunate to work amazing talents: Artists, models, architects, designers, chefs, chieftains, and artisans ….. some telling their story sitting cross-legged on floors handcrafting gemstones, others strolling through world-class museums reviewing their newest retrospective.