How do you source stories?  I use a variety of sources, and obviously PRs are a crucial part of that process, but as breaking news editor increasingly I use platforms that can alert me to events as they are unfolding: Twitter is top of the list as this gives me access to the widest range of stories that are useful to our readers, from the more banal (chaos on the morning commute) to key business stories (resignations/sackings, job cuts in particular) and serious events (ie the Bangkok bomb, the current Sharm el-Sheikh story and the Charlie Hebdo killings and subsequent manhunt). I also use apps such as Breaking News, BBC, Sky etc).

How do you prefer to be contacted by PR professionals?

Phone call is usually best as I get hundreds of emails a day, but I will probably ask that people email me with the details as I am usually too busy to break off what I'm doing for a full-on chat over the phone.

What is the most useful service PR provides?

Quick turnaround comment pieces for breaking news (my dual role as commissioner for Expert Voices means I need a rapid response from third parties).

Also, we increasingly rely on data to build stories as we have a team of data journalists to go through the stats and a team of developers who can create amazing graphics/charts around the information. We always want the raw data rather than a purpose built infographic and it's really irritating if it's not easily available (this includes the format it's saved in – PDFs are a total nightmare and just add hours to a task).

What can PRs do/provide to best assist print journalists?

I'm a digital journalist so not sure this is appropriate to me? But from my perspective, speed is critical. If I call and ask for a statement that I can see has been circulated, it's incredibly frustrating to not have it sent out within the next 10 minutes. Every second counts online.

As for the rest, see above – it's all about access to data, information and ultimately the contact.

Which PR habit do you find most irritating?

As a digital journalist, it's being asked whether it's going to go in the print edition. If you want something to go in the print edition, ask the print editors.

Also personally, I find that I have repeat offenders calling me at times when I've specifically asked them not to. My mornings are intensely busy and I just don't have time to listen to something unless it's urgent, but it seems like some PRs don't listen when I ask them not to call before 11am.

Then there are the quibblers. There is one particular listed fashion brand whose PR team has a reputation for calling to quibble over something that is perfectly factually correct, just because they don't like the tone. I had this same type of call from another retailer this week. If it's factually inaccurate, I'll hold my hands up and get it sorted immediately. If you don't think I've been sufficiently enthusiastic, that's really not my problem.

Do PRs understand or know your deadlines? Should they?

See above, but in short - no. This would make my mornings immeasurably better and they would be far more likely to get a positive response. I'm not likely to listen patiently to the pitch when I've got far more pressing things, especially if I've told you before not to call me at that time.

What would you like to see more of in your dealings with PR?

More speed and urgency in responding to things. More innovation in the way they appraoch things – although there are some who are good at this. More data-led stories and more exclusives for us. And fewer requests for things to go in print.