Molly McHugh

@iammollymchugh · Articles Editor, The Ringer

@dleesta Hi Daniel! Honestly, I know a lot of people say that Slack is a distraction, but it's great for us, especially when my section is mostly remote -- I'm in LA, they're in NY. Also, not to plug another productivity tool, but Trello. Trello for everything.

COSTAS ANDRIOPOULOS

@candriopoulos · https://medium.com/strictly-curious

Hello Molly, thank you for taking our questions. 1. Where do you look for trending stories (e.g. sources, events, websites, etc.) and 2. What kind of tools do you use to research/find interesting content?

@iammollymchugh · Articles Editor, The Ringer

@candriopoulos Hi Costas! I don't know if my answers will be terribly interesting here, but: Google alerts, my Digg RSS, Digg front page, Google News front page, Hacker News, and a lot of really weird Twitter searches.

3 share tweet・a year ago

COSTAS ANDRIOPOULOS

@candriopoulos · https://medium.com/strictly-curious

@iammollymchugh Dear Molly, thank you a lot for your response!

upvote share tweet・a year ago

Theoharis Dimarhos

@theo_dimarhos · Marketing+Biz Dev at AngelouEconomics

Hi Molly! Thanks for taking the time. Can you talk about the leadership style of Bill Simmons?

@iammollymchugh · Articles Editor, The Ringer

@theo_dimarhos Bill is super creative and he's interested in everything -- he also really believes in us and the site, but it's great to just talk to him about what you're working or something he noticed and thought could be a story. A lot of ideas come from all of us just being around each other and talking, and he's fostered that environment.

Thomas Stöcklein

@tomstocklein · FoundersFundersFuture.com

Who are some writers and editors that you admire/learned from?

@iammollymchugh · Articles Editor, The Ringer

@tomstocklein My list is insanely long, but a few editors I've learned from over the years: Austin Powell, Nick Mokey, Joe Brown, Mike Calore, Chuck Squatriglia, and Caitlin Roper. Learned a lot about how to be a good manager, a better writer, understand tech media, and a more constructive editor from these people.

Jonathan Barry

@barryjonathan

What are some suggestions to recent graduates looking to get into the media world (social media, broadcast, etc.) ?

@iammollymchugh · Articles Editor, The Ringer

@barryjonathan Get on Twitter, for sure, and it sounds terrible, but just start writing. There or on a ~blog~. Don't try and write what seems popular or trendy, focus in on what you're already an expert on -- if it's local taco trucks or some minor league baseball team you're obsessed with. Become an expert in a niche you already love. Odds are there is someone who would really like an expert on a ~thing~ and you already are one. And pitch. I'm not a freelancing expert by any means, but I have friends who are making a living freelancing so it can be done.

Jordan Gonen

@jrdngonen

When did you start writing publicly ? What do you like about it ?

@iammollymchugh · Articles Editor, The Ringer

@jrdngonen My first writing job was at Digital Trends, I think I started there in 2011 or 2012. I graduated at a not-great time for journalism students, 2009, and figured I would end up in Comms or HR or something -- which I'm sure would have turned out OK, but I'm extremely happy things went this way. All I've ever done is write, so I'm thrilled I get to do what I know and love : )

💖

Ryan Hoover

@rrhoover · Founder, Product Hunt

Hey, Molly! What's different working at The Ringer (a publication distributed on Medium) vs. WIRED or The Daily Dot? P.S. I grew up in Eugene and graduated from the U of O (go Ducks!).

@iammollymchugh · Articles Editor, The Ringer

@rrhoover Go Ducks! WTD! I'm hating how I'm about to become a 49ers fan this year (Chip, Buckner!). Well most obviously, The Ringer is new -- I've never been at a site for launch, and it's really exciting and scary and great to start something totally from scratch. You get to set a tone, and it's been really incredible to do that. WIRED was an amazing place to work and I learned so much from media vets there, but obviously it's very established. The Dot was somewhere in between these two -- it had been around for a few years, but certain processes and methods had been established, though there was flexibility in other ways (figuring out a tone, etc). Starting at zero is a whole new experience for me, and it's been an exciting one. Also, each site had a different CMS, haha, so I feel very well-versed now.

Jacqueline von Tesmar

@jacqvon · Community, Product Hunt ✌️😻

What are the first tabs you open on your computer/phone every morning?

@iammollymchugh · Articles Editor, The Ringer

@jacqvon Gmail, Gcal, Trello, Tweetdeck, Techmeme, Hacker News, Digg, Digg/tech, Digg RSS, Google News, Twitter (for searching)

Emily Hodgins

@ems_hodge · Community and Marketing, Product Hunt

What tips or advice can you offer to people just looking to get started as a journalist?

@iammollymchugh · Articles Editor, The Ringer

@ems_hodge I think it's been said a lot so sorry if this is boring but: Get Twitter, and write what you know. Don't try and be a generalist and just pick topics that are trendy right now or speak to everyone; become an expert on something you're already passionate about and make that your niche. As a great example, take notice of esports writers who are become very employable.