Experience
DNAinfo Chicago
Digital and print news source covering Chicago. Website at DNAinfo.com/Chicago/.
General Assignment Reporter
May 2015 to Present
I write at least three stories per day, take photos and produce videos. I write about crime and violence in Chicago on a daily basis, but as a general assignment reporter I’ve also covered politics, education and business, among other beats.
I have been trained in search engine optimization and social media engagement to grow DNAinfo’s audience. I also share stories with readers through radio segments for DNA and other media outlets.
Intern
May to August 2013 and May to August 2014
I produced more than 200 stories, took photos and edited videos for DNAinfo. I produced stories and packages every day. I covered major events like the shooting of a CEO in the Loop and the 2013 Blackhawks parade. I also wrote human interest stories, among them coverage of food truck owners’ conflicts with competing restaurants.
Northern Star
Daily independent newspaper with a circulation of 10,000 based in DeKalb, Ill., with an emphasis on city and campus coverage. Website at NorthernStar.info.
Editor in Chief and Publisher
May 2012 to May 2015
I was elected into the newspaper’s top position after less than a year on the staff. I oversaw a staff of more than 100 people and was responsible for all published content.
I directed the large-scale reorganization of the newsroom and revamped how stories were produced to free up resources to boost the Northern Star’s digital product by growing its audience and engaging more of its readers.
I edited all content, managed social media, updated the Star’s website, led meetings and planned enterprise projects. I represented the Northern Star to the community and to Northern Illinois University leadership.
Campus News Editor
December 2011 to May 2012
I assigned, wrote and edited content on a daily basis. I produced award-winning news coverage. I managed a team of about five people. I produced briefs from crime reports for the daily blotter. I covered beats for the university’s multiple levels of government.
Copy Editor and Designer, City News Reporter
August to December 2011
As a copy editor and designer, I edited content from each section and designed award-winning pages four to five nights a week. I produced infographics and art using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. As a reporter, I wrote stories focused on city issues or localizing national and state news. I covered DeKalb’s City Council beat. I was constantly on call for breaking news and was named the section’s best breaking news reporter.
Technical Skills
• AP Style, copy editing
• Page design
• InCopy, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop expertise
• FinalCut, iMovie expertise
• Social media expertise
• DSLR photography
• Blox and WordPress content management systems
Education
Major: Journalism
Minor: History
Recognition
Chicago Headline Club
• Best deadline reporting online: 2016
Associated Collegiate Press
• Diversity news story of the year, honorable mention: 2013
Illinois College Press Association
• Best news story, first place: 2015; second place: 2012; honorable mention: 2015
• Best feature story, first place: 2013
• Feature page design, first place: 2011, 2012
• Front page design, second place: 2012, 2014
• Editorial, second place: 2013
• Newspaper general excellence, first place: 2015; second place: 2012, 2013, 2014 (editor in chief)
Northern Star
• Jim Killam Mentor Award: 2015
• Tom Fullmer Editing Award: 2013, 2014
• Kathy Orr McDonald Award for Editorial Excellence
• Best Damn Reporter Award