So, I've unboxed the Rode NT-USB mini microphone and plugged it into my MacBook Air. The installation was pretty easy. It comes with a one-page instruction manual that shows how to attach this microphone to a broadcast arm (for those of you with radio or podcasting dreams). It also has a port on the back for plugging in headphones, so that's pretty cool.

My tenure as a Newsday towns reporter is over and the feeling is bittersweet. It has been an almost three-year whirlwind of challenges, happiness and frustration but ultimately it ended in love and appreciation. I have joined CBS News as a reporter in Manhattan covering economic disparities and other fun business tidbits for the MoneyWatch team. No, I’m not gonna be on TV - at least not all the time. Yes, I’m very excited, but I’m nervous at the same time. It’s a new beat and I’m eager about the challenge of developing this thing. 

In January 2019, I was named a fellow in the Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at CUNY's journalism school in New York City. The program gives journalists tons of information and online resources about public finance so they can become better reporters on fiscal policy and budget issues among state and local governments. I joined about 20 other journalists from across the country for a weeklong series of talks, exercises, discussions and overall learning. Here are my five takeaways. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

I'm excited to announce that I have joined the faculty in the Department of American Studies at SUNY Old Westbury as an adjunct professor in the media and communications sequence.

Five NABJ students got their registration costs paid for the 2018 convention in Detroit by yours truly. I've selected five winners and I'm happy to have helped them. Those five are getting their registrations paid, but I gained something from this process as well. Let me share a few things I've learned.

For the first time in my career, the National Association of Black Journalists is hosting its annual convention in my hometown of Detroit. And because of that, I've decided to pay the registration fee for five NABJ students. I'm doing this because I know what it's like to be a struggling college student.

Journalism schools teach a lot of skills to aspiring journalists, including how to write, shoot video, and engage an audience on social media. However, there's still a couple of things journalism schools don't teach: how to network with other professionals and why that's an important aspect of your career.

I have a good friend in Virginia who is a fantastic journalist. I'm keeping this person's name anonymous. We'll call him/her Morgan. Morgan's real name doesn't matter as much as the cautionary tale that I'm about to relay. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Hopefully you've come to this post after reading my first post: Recent graduates, you can negotiate your salary too. And hopefully, if you're reading this, you've determined what your salary range is for a potential job offer. If you've made it that far, let's dive into how to negotiate the salary.

Years after I landed my first journalism job, my mentor shared some advice that I couldn't use. Now, I'm sharing it with you. If you're a recent graduate who has been offered a job, please know that you don't have to take whatever salary they offer initially. You can - and should - negotiate your salary just like veteran journalists. It will take some bravery to speak up and ask for more, but it'll be worth it when your first paycheck hits your bank account. Let's spend the rest of this post breaking down how to negotiate your salary.