I work at the StarNews in Wilmington, N.C. Right now, I cover the City of Wilmington, meaning its government and its people. (The picture above is one I took at a house fire in New Hanover County in March 2013.) Throughout my time at the StarNews, I've covered nearly everything, ranging from hurricanes to murders to the ins-and-outs of government.
Here's what my resume says:
City of Wilmington reporter: Cover Southeastern North Carolina's largest city. Work has included a package about a magnet program that had admissions policies favoring white children, the proposed rezoning of a golf course and the effects of Hurricane Matthew on the region.
Brunswick County reporter (April 2015-April 2016): Cover one of America’s fastest-growing counties. Work generally focuses on ongoing change in the region, but also included stories about two shark attacks at a local beach that captured national attention, an ongoing tussle between neighboring towns, questionable spending by the county’s economic development department, contentious elections and the legal tussle between a developer and the people who believe they’ll never live in homes on the land they bought from him. Chosen as fellow for inaugural class of Media Law School at the University of South Carolina.
Public safety and general assignment reporter (July 2013-January 2015): Cover a period of high-profile crime in Southeastern North Carolina, much of which has been linked to gang activity. Spot news stories covered include the killing by police of a man who allegedly shot a detective. Enterprise work includes the lead story in a package synthesizing the region’s gang activity and a story about how the gangs could be targeting police. Heroin package came in 3rd place in news enterprise reporting at 2014 N.C. Press Association Awards.
Transportation and North Brunswick County reporter (October 2012 to July 2013): Covered multiple agencies and governments including the North Carolina Ports Authority, Wilmington International Airport, Wave Transit, Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the quickly-growing towns of Leland and Belville. Reported day-of stories, as well as multi-day enterprise pieces.
Here's what my resume says:
City of Wilmington reporter: Cover Southeastern North Carolina's largest city. Work has included a package about a magnet program that had admissions policies favoring white children, the proposed rezoning of a golf course and the effects of Hurricane Matthew on the region.
Brunswick County reporter (April 2015-April 2016): Cover one of America’s fastest-growing counties. Work generally focuses on ongoing change in the region, but also included stories about two shark attacks at a local beach that captured national attention, an ongoing tussle between neighboring towns, questionable spending by the county’s economic development department, contentious elections and the legal tussle between a developer and the people who believe they’ll never live in homes on the land they bought from him. Chosen as fellow for inaugural class of Media Law School at the University of South Carolina.
Public safety and general assignment reporter (July 2013-January 2015): Cover a period of high-profile crime in Southeastern North Carolina, much of which has been linked to gang activity. Spot news stories covered include the killing by police of a man who allegedly shot a detective. Enterprise work includes the lead story in a package synthesizing the region’s gang activity and a story about how the gangs could be targeting police. Heroin package came in 3rd place in news enterprise reporting at 2014 N.C. Press Association Awards.
Transportation and North Brunswick County reporter (October 2012 to July 2013): Covered multiple agencies and governments including the North Carolina Ports Authority, Wilmington International Airport, Wave Transit, Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the quickly-growing towns of Leland and Belville. Reported day-of stories, as well as multi-day enterprise pieces.
In the summer of 2012, almost immediately after graduating from Ohio University, I interned on the metro desk at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. That summer still marks the most I've grown as a reporter in any three-month period of the last six years. Stories that I covered included topics such as business, education, science, transportation and just general news.
Here's what my resume says: Worked on the metro desk at the nation’s 33rd-largest newspaper. Reported and wrote a wide variety of stories covering topics such as business, economy, education, science and transportation. Reported day-of stories, as well as multi-day features. Routinely featured on front page of metro section.
Here's what my resume says: Worked on the metro desk at the nation’s 33rd-largest newspaper. Reported and wrote a wide variety of stories covering topics such as business, economy, education, science and transportation. Reported day-of stories, as well as multi-day features. Routinely featured on front page of metro section.
I interned on Long Island during the summer of 2011. During that summer, I worked on the features desk at Newsday, writing travel stories, event previews and coverage (hey, I went to Warped Tour) and pitching in on some entertainment news coverage. Eventually, I began primarily working on music stories.
Here's what my resume says: Worked as the only features intern at the nation’s 16th-largest newspaper. Wrote 30 stories — including four tabloid section cover stories — with assignments including event coverage, travel articles, music previews and profiles of local organizations. Freelance occasionally.
Here's what my resume says: Worked as the only features intern at the nation’s 16th-largest newspaper. Wrote 30 stories — including four tabloid section cover stories — with assignments including event coverage, travel articles, music previews and profiles of local organizations. Freelance occasionally.
My first real journalism experience came at The Post, Ohio University's independent daily student newspaper. During four years there, I worked as a copy editor, a features staff writer, a culture (features) editor and managing editor.
Here's what my resume says:
Managing Editor (June 2011 to June 2012): Managed the editorial content for a staff of 80 writers across six sections at a daily campus newspaper. Dictated editorial content by leading various planning meetings and working throughout the day with staff editors. Edited front page stories for content and AP style. Helped improve recruitment efforts and then retention rates by mentoring young writers on all staffs. Developed a familiarity with FOIA requests. Awards, as voted on by staff, included Most Valuable, Best Senior.
Culture Editor (June 2010 to June 2011): Managed a 20-writer staff, including leading planning meetings and mentoring young writers. Planned, coordinated and occasionally wrote a weekly PostModern special feature page. Edited each article of the culture staff for AP style and content. Wrote one feature article a week.
Staff Writer (March 2010 to June 2010): Wrote at least two feature articles a week, usually including one profile of a local and one in-depth feature about the local music scene. Developed and maintained the music beat.
Copy Editor (September 2008 to June 2010): Edited each article for AP style, Post style, accuracy and clarity. Wrote headlines. Named Best Headline Writer by Copy Chief.
Here's what my resume says:
Managing Editor (June 2011 to June 2012): Managed the editorial content for a staff of 80 writers across six sections at a daily campus newspaper. Dictated editorial content by leading various planning meetings and working throughout the day with staff editors. Edited front page stories for content and AP style. Helped improve recruitment efforts and then retention rates by mentoring young writers on all staffs. Developed a familiarity with FOIA requests. Awards, as voted on by staff, included Most Valuable, Best Senior.
Culture Editor (June 2010 to June 2011): Managed a 20-writer staff, including leading planning meetings and mentoring young writers. Planned, coordinated and occasionally wrote a weekly PostModern special feature page. Edited each article of the culture staff for AP style and content. Wrote one feature article a week.
Staff Writer (March 2010 to June 2010): Wrote at least two feature articles a week, usually including one profile of a local and one in-depth feature about the local music scene. Developed and maintained the music beat.
Copy Editor (September 2008 to June 2010): Edited each article for AP style, Post style, accuracy and clarity. Wrote headlines. Named Best Headline Writer by Copy Chief.