Resume
EXPERIENCE
March 2008-present
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, Ga. (Circ. 275,000 daily, 465,000 Sunday)
Blogger: In July, 2009, joined the digital department to launch a see-and-do blog, Inside Access on AccessAtlanta.com, the entertainment portal site of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Post an average of 20 times per week with regular features, breaking news, critiques and inside looks at events around the metro area. Use social media tools to report and share news and guide readers. Shoot photos for print and online galleries. Script, narrate and shoot videos. Help to design and implement newsroom strategies for social media and digital storytelling.
Features Reporter: Pitched and wrote features, enterprise and breaking news for AJC.com and print. Managed and created content for The Newcomer and breaking news blogs. Scripted, narrated and appeared on-camera for AJC.com videos.
January 2005-March 2008
Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, Ky. (Circ. 117,000 daily, 147,000 Sunday)
Culture Writer, Blogger: Covered and reviewed trends, TV, music, radio and visual arts. Wrote column and EPpy-nominated daily culture blog, It’s All About. Reported, photographed and blogged in Iraq in 2007-08 and in post-Katrina New Orleans for the McClatchy chain. Produced multimedia projects with audio and video. Coached Teen Board. Helped to conceptualize and create new print features and LexGo.com.
June 2004-December 2004
The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas (Circ. 477,000 daily, 656,000 Sunday)
Features Intern: Covered health, trends, media and music for daily pages, weekly sections and Page One.
Business intern: Wrote general assignment stories for daily section, weekly technology section and Page One, including earnings, trends, profiles and breaking news; freelanced stories after internship.
August 2002-May 2004
Detroit Free Press, Lansing Bureau, Detroit, Mich. (Circ. 371,000 daily, 683,000 Sunday)
Editorial Assistant: Covered higher education, state politics and breaking news, including elections, courts and 2003 riots at Michigan State University. Worked downtown night cops during school breaks. Wrote Hearst Award-winning in-depth on prison personal ads and stories for Community Free Press.
January 2004-May 2004
Capital News Service, East Lansing, Mich. (26-paper distribution)
Correspondent: Covered state government, localizing stories for Petoskey, Mich. and South Bend, Ind. papers.
June 2003-August 2003
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, Ga. (Circ. 397,000 daily, 610,000 Sunday)
Features Intern: Covered entertainment and lifestyles for daily living and metro sections, consumer section, AJC.com and weekly entertainment tab, AccessAtlanta; freelanced stories after internship.
May 2002-August 2002
Lansing State Journal, Lansing, Mich. (Circ. 71,000 daily 90,500 Sunday)
Metro Intern: Covered local government, schools and police beats; volunteered for features and editorial work.
August 2000-May 2004
The State News, East Lansing, Mich. (Circ. 28,500 daily)
Reporter, Desk Editor, Copy Editor: Covered police, university administration and city government; wrote Hearst Award-winning environmental series about development on South Fox Island; traveled to New York in 2001 to write and photograph award-winning series about impact of 9/11 terrorist attacks. Edited daily sections and Page One.
EDUCATION
Goucher College, Baltimore, Md.
• Pursuing Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction, writing about social impact of cars and roads.
• Expected graduation from low-residency program in 2010.
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.
• Graduated with honors in 2004, with Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
• Earned Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Honors College certifications.
• Studied abroad in 2004, focusing on urban planning and regional development in Havana, Cuba.
Centurion Risk Assessment Services: Hostile environment and emergency first aid training.
Knight Digital Media Center Seminar at University of California-Berkeley: Basic Web design, multimedia production and online storytelling using Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro, Audacity, Soundslides.
AWARDS
American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors Excellence in Feature Writing Contest winner for A&E feature (2008), Kentucky Press Association first place for enterprise/analytical story (2007), Journalism and Women Symposium scholarship (2007), EPpy Award finalist for entertainment blog, It’s All About (2007), MSU School of Journalism Applegate Outstanding Senior Award (2004), Kappa Tau Alpha inductee (2004), Hearst Foundation journalism awards (2001, 2004), Scripps Howard Top 10 Scholar award (2003), Mary Gardner Scholars inductee (2003), State News Alumni Association award (2001-02), PGA of America Journalism Scholarship (2002)