Interview with Nicolette Emmino

How an aspiring veterinarian became a full-time electronics journalist

Meet Nicolette Emmino, the newest — and youngest — editor on the Electronic Products staff.

From automotives to alternative energy, robotics to biotechnology, this recent Hofstra University graduate has already covered it all. Here’s how she got here and some insight on what she thinks of modern-day electronics and technology.

Jeffrey Bausch: How did you get involved in journalism and what do you enjoy most about writing web-only content?

Nicolette Emmino : I would love to say that it was a “childhood dream,” but that just wasn’t the case. I wanted to be a veterinarian, until I accidentally took a journalism class and realized how good I was at it. I fell in love. After reading Barbara Walters’ memoir, “Audition”, I was hooked even more. The idea of taking facts and making them remotely interesting is challenging and therefore intriguing to me. I could always write creatively, that came naturally. I was writing stories as soon as I could spell (actually even before I could spell correctly!). However, to write about facts and report on events, to meet different people and get to ask questions — that’s where I started to feel like this was something I could do.

I majored in broadcast journalism and had the fancy idea of being a news anchor. As I studied and met some people along the way, I was taught about the growing field of online journalism. I didn’t want any part of it at first, but I had a professor who always told me “Forget about print, online is where it’s at.” So I believed him. I got involved in some online journalism reporting with a team at the university and kept an open-mind.

JB: Prior to joining Electronic Products, what other news and events have you covered?

Nicolette Emmino : Before joining Electronic Products, my past reporting experience was in college where a group of journalism students and I put together a website covering local Long Island news. It was an amazing experience to be so hands on in the community. I would meet with the mayor of Hempstead, NY every week, attend community board meetings, and meet with the board of education, as well as county executives and trustees. I began incorporating video into my reporting and interviewing became a love of mine.

Covering the 2008 Presidential debate was one of the most memorable experiences of my life so far. It really opened my eyes to the world of online journalism and the possibilities that it offers.

JB: What EP story that you covered sticks out as most memorable? Why?

Nicolette Emmino : Well, it sounds pretty cliché, but my first story “Iron Man’s armor: a future reality?” is my most memorable because it was my first here. It also shows me how much I can grow in a short period of time.

I also like all of the stories I write about toilets and recycling waste into energy. I make a joke around here that I have a “thing for toilets.” An engineer turned human waste into electricity — I just love the potential!

JB: With the recent explosion of better, more affordable mobile technology, news reporting has somewhat been turned over from the “reporter on the scene” to the bystander with a smartphone. Do you think this is good or bad for journalism?

Nicolette Emmino : I flip-flop on this issue. As young as I may be, I have an older mindset. I love a print newspaper. I love the idea of print journalism, but the fact is that times are changing and we must change with them. The potential is great. It gives people the ability to capture moments and events that before wasn’t possible, but credibility is always an issue. Now any Joe on the street can report on something and put it up on the web. It diminishes the value of journalism in my opinion. There’s something so captivating about the “reporter on the scene” type of journalism that I envision in my head.

JB: From a writer’s point of view, how do you feel about social media? Is it a good thing, in that it helps get stories out to a wider audience, or is it a bad thing, in that the writer can no longer control the audience to whom they are writing for?

Nicolette Emmino : Social media, well I’ll be honest with you. I hated it. I was the last person to get these Facebook, Twitter, etc. accounts. In terms of what it does for accessing information, it’s pretty genius. More people are reading your work and that’s always the goal. However, to piggy-back off of what I said in the previous response, it seems that my fear is always credibility. I had a mentor who pushed and pushed for me become more open to using social media as a journalistic tool to get your voice heard and to get others to notice you. Initially, I was very resistant. Now, I’m coming to learn the benefits of doing so, and I must say it’s not so bad.

JB: In your opinion, what gadget do you think is on its way out (along the lines of CD players, PDAs, box TVs, etc.)?

Nicolette Emmino : I have two that I think are definitely going to go. First and maybe more obvious: the fax machine. Does anybody really use that thing anymore? And second, a traditional iPod. Now that everyone has smartphones, there’s really no need for an iPod. All of my music is on my iPhone. I actually just gave away my iPod because I haven’t used it in over a year. (Plus, I’m more of a Pandora girl anyway. I like the anticipation of not knowing what song will come on next.)

JB: What area of technology interests you the most?

Nicolette Emmino : I would say medical and biotechnology interest me the most. It’s amazing the strides that are being made in these areas. Sometimes I get lost on a website just clicking through recent findings or the amazing things that can be done with prostheses. It gives me hope — that one day cures for illnesses may arise, that one day what we know about the human brain can expand, and one day we can manipulate certain human outcomes with devices implanted in the body. It’s the type of technology that can save lives, help improve quality of life, and who knows — maybe we’ll one day be able to live forever!

On a side note, I must say that aerospace technology fascinates me as well. The fact that we have a rover doing its own research on Mars right now is mind boggling. The idea that we could possibly not be the only planet with life form on it is very humbling. In the grand scheme of things, we’re just one planet. Aerospace technology affords us the opportunity to start learning what’s beyond us. How cool is that?

JB: If you could have any gadget out on the market right now, what would you want and why?

Nicolette Emmino : Maybe some might not consider this a “gadget,” but recently I wrote about a tiny electric car that folds up, a concept initiated by MIT. The car is actually on the market and that is one car I would love to have! I can’t say that driving is one of my strongest points and parking is even worse! This car folds up and can fit into a third of a parking spot. That would benefit my driving experience a great deal.

I know there are tons of tablets and electronic devices out right now that would be cool to have, but I have my iPhone and it does the job. When I think about how I could simplify my life, the tiny electric car would be the one thing I would want.

JB: Lastly, a fun one: Let’s say you’re marooned on an island with a smartphone – which technology would you trust more to help you figure out a way to get home: Apple’s Siri or Google’s Search app?

Nicolette Emmino : I am a Google girl 100%. I Google everything and I must say, it’s very rare that Google disappoints me. I have an iPhone, and I think I’ve used Siri once. I remain loyal to Google Search!

Nicolette Emmino recently joined the Electronic Products team as editorial assistant. A recent Hofstra University graduate, she completed her college career with a BA in Broadcast Journalism. She is responsible for composing weekly newsletters, maintaining EEM.com reference guide, and uses her passion for new ideas and writing to produce content for ElectronicProducts.com. ■