Experience
EXPERTISE
Full complement of interactive and social media skills.
Multimedia content creation expert.
Content management systems: Expression Engine, Communique, Drupal, WordPress.
Editing: Edius, Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Elements, Windows Live Movie Maker, Audacity.
FTP programs: Ipswitch FTP, WinSCP.
Video with a Panasonic AG DVX100 camera, photos with Nikon D90.
Proficient with MS Office Suite.
AWARDS
Series on Diabetes – D. Tennant Bryan Award/Media General/2006
Series on Diabetes – Second place, Investigative reporting/Virginia Press Association/2006
First Place, education reporting/Society of Professional Journalists/2006
“Bubbling Trouble” – First place, government reporting/Society of Professional Journalists/2005
Second Place, general news writing/Virginia Press Association/2005
Series on Tennessee Medicaid – Second place, general news writing/Virginia Press Association/2005
“Lack of Foresight Makes us Shiver”- Third place, editorial/Illinois Collegiate Press
Association/2003
EXPERIENCE
The Final Drafts
Sole Proprietor – July 2010 – Present
Write/edit copy, articles, press releases and blog posts, coordinate media relations, maintain social media accounts for clients including a PR firm. Create and maintain Web sites, edit video, photos.
NBC17 – Raleigh, N.C.
Multi-Platform Producer – July 2007 – July 2010
Spearheaded creation of leading Triangle politics blog. Produce live news broadcasts, writing scripts, ordering graphics, making content decisions and boothing the live show to see it achieved. Leader in use of social networking to reach audience, attending local Twitter events, connecting our station with new viewers in target demographic. Lead editor for content on MyNC Web sites. Produce and post unique print, video and photo content on those sites. Produce full-length video packages for Web: shooting, voicing, editing and posting.
Sugar Hollow Retreat – Butler, Tenn.
Freelance Public Relations Manager – June-December 2009
Started SHR public relations from scratch, increasing web traffic and inquires. Researched, blogged and wrote press releases to send to relevant Web sites, news groups. Built WordPress blog site, organized media contact lists and set up social media accounts. Collaborated with other manager to produce and organize events to reach potential clients.
Bristol Herald Courier – Bristol, Va. (40,000 daily)
Reporter – January 2005 – July 2007
Researched, interviewed and investigated issues to write daily stories on county government, education, an airport, state legislation and health. Teamed with sister TV station to appear on broadcasts and compile projects for both media. Produced and anchored five-minute Web casts.
Lee News – Springfield, Ill.
Bureau Political Reporter – Jan. 3 – May 30, 2004
Reported on the Illinois State House of Representatives, committees and Constitutional officers for five daily Lee newspapers while completing Master’s degree at UIS.
Daily Egyptian – Carbondale, Ill. – SIU (20,500 daily)
Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Desk Editor, Reporter – September 1999 – May 2003
As EIC, supervised a staff of 50 reporters, photographers, designers and editors. Edited all copy, directed meetings, made editorial decisions, mentored staff, generated and delegated ideas, represented newspaper to public, produced award-winning Sept. 11 first anniversary edition. As desk editor, supervised between four and seven reporters, organized daily and weekly story budgets, edited copy, continued reporting. Began as a beat reporter, covering a variety of topics from government to features.
EDUCATION
M.A. in Public Affairs Reporting at the University of Illinois at Springfield/2004
B.S. in Journalism at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale/2003