Zombie Journalism

Objective

To do whatever job necessary to make good journalism thrive online – and still get paid for it.

Highlights

• 2009 Knight Digital Media fellow
• Extensive work with social media tools & strategy
• Newsroom trainer

Employment History

Cincinnati Enquirer/Cincinnati.Com, Digital Content Editor/Social Media & Projects, April 2009 to present. Acting as the content “traffic cop” for Cincinnati.Com. I manage across our newsroom and beyond to package, present and syndicate content across a variety of online/social media platforms with a goal of maximizing page views to the Cincinnati.Com network of websites. I’m also responsible for developing social media strategies and new online products through collaboration inside the Enquirer newsroom and in the community.

Recent Work: Cincinnati.Com’s Locals on Living blog network, Cincinnati.Com Wordpress blog conversion and training

Cincinnati Enquirer, Social Media Editor, January 2008 to April 2009. I was a key player in our site’s redesign in early 2008, particularly in the implementation of new social networking tools. I ran the Enquirer’s social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Digg, etc.), managed our online community and teaching the newsroom how to use social media and multimedia tools effectively.

Cincinnati Enquirer, Online Special Projects Editor, April 2007 to January 2008. Brainstormed, planned and coordinated online features, standalones and special sections with newsroom editors and editorial teams.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (online), News Producer, August 2004 to April 2007. Produced and placed daily news on deadline for JSOnline, started and voiced the paper’s daily news podcast and managed online election coverage. I also did a few video and audio projects and wrote a popular blog – Seen and Heard.
WKSU-FM, News Fellow, January 2001 to June 2004. During the time spent earning my graduate degree, I worked here gathering sound, reporting on deadline, writing copy, research and studio production at this locally operated National Public Radio affiliate. Won the 2003 Ohio SPJ Radio Feature Honorable Mention for “Green Bean Casserole”.

Fusion magazine, editor, September 2003 to May 2004. Co-created this 8,000-circ magazine for sexual minority issues, where I served as editor-in-chief of print and online. I obtained the publication’s start-up funding, edited the first two issues, built the website and managed a staff of 18 for this continuing twice-yearly magazine.

Cincinnati Enquirer, Arts & Entertainment reporting intern, May 2003 to September 2003. My first taste of newspaper reporting included deadline reporting, researching and writing trend stories, reviewing concerts, writing pop culture columns and four weekend magazine cover features.

Education

M.A. in Journalism – Media Management (degree focus in cybermedia), Kent
State University, May 2004.

B.S. in News (magazine concentration), Kent State University, May 2002.
Graduated summa cum laude with an additional minor in creative writing.

Technical Skills

Operating systems: Extensive work in Windows and Mac systems.

Advanced/daily use skills: Adobe Photoshop, html, CSS, Microsoft Word, Excel, Soundslides, Slideshow Pro, Garage Band, CoolEdit Pro, iMovie, FTP, Saxotech content management, Pluck systems.

Beginner-level skills: Final Cut Pro, Adobe Flash, Javascript, geo-mapping, uer-generated maps, Wordpress development.

Other skills: Audio recording, podcasting, still and video photography.

Awards and Recognitions

• Chosen as a 2009 fellow for the Knight Digital Media Technology Tools Workshop at the University of California – Berkeley.
• Chosen as the Cincinnati.Com employee of Q1 2008.
• Awarded the Walt Clarke Graduate Fellowship at Kent State University.
• Placed in the 2001 Hearst Contest for Feature Writing for “Harry Potter Goes to College“
• Received (as editor-in-chief) Best Student Magazine award for The Burr and Fusion magazines from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2002 and 2004 (respectively).
• Received first place for website editing and design for The Burr and Fusion magazines from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2003 and 2004 (respectively).