SUMMARY
Award-winning, experienced multimedia reporter and editor looking to share stories with impact. Good teammate and team leader. Developed and covered stories with state and national interest for media groups including The Associated Press, Reuters, The Washington Post and The Tampa Bay Times. I enjoy finding and spotlighting stories that engage the community and initiate change.
SPECIALIZED SKILLS
Working knowledge of various content management systems, SEO optimization, social media marketing, Audacity, iMovie, Microsoft Office, Adobe creative products, Cascading Style Sheet and HTML web design.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Cox Media Group Feb. 2015 to September 2021
National Content Editor
Develop national strategic content for newspaper, television and radio station’s digital properties. Use digital reporting tools and rely on news judgment to find and produce stories that consistently drive traffic for a national audience.
University of South Florida St. Petersburg Aug. 2015 to Aug. 2016 Graduate Research Assistant
Edited and guided coverage for Neighborhood News Bureau, a capstone reporting class for senior and graduate students.
Freelance writer, reporter Jan. 2014 to present
Regularly received assignments, covered news and developed features for various publications including The Associated Press, Tampa Bay Times, 83 Degrees Media, Creative Loafing, Reuters, the Washington Post, Visit Clearwater, and Visit Florida. Also contributed reporting to the The Miami New Times and The Sun of London.
AOL/Clearwater Patch 2010 to 2013 Local Editor
Edited copy, produced video, took photographs, developed feature stories, covered breaking news and local government. Assigned and edited stories leading a team of freelance writers.
St. Petersburg Times 2007 to 2010 Staff Writer
Covered features, breaking news, local and state government and politics. Produced multimedia audio and slideshow packages. Administrator for one of the newspaper’s first community blogs. One of the first reporters to use Twitter to report a story
Freelance Writer, Reporter 2006 to 2007
Covered state and national politics and court cases in the Tampa Bay area for The Associated Press. Covered front page stories for St. Petersburg Times regional editions as well as its “Top of the Class” full page feature. Covered city government and breaking news for Tampa Bay Newspapers weekly newspapers.
Sami Al Arian terrorist trial, Tampa, Fla. 2005 Media Liaison
Coordinated the daily release of evidence to national and Tampa Bay area media outlets during the six month trial.
Independent Florida Alligator, Gainesville, Fla. 2003 to 2004 Reporter
Covered student, city and county government, university administration, local elections and the 2004 presidential election for The Independent Florida Alligator, the country’s largest circulating daily college newspaper.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE
The Studio Review, St. Petersburg, Fla. 2010 Managing Editor
Led a team in the creation of a Panorama-style news, features and arts broadsheet publication in accord with the Studio@620 art gallery’s five-year anniversary. Edited and solicited content. Worked to create publishing agreement with local alternative weekly Creative Loafing.
The Sequitur.com 2005 to 2008 Contributing Editor
Aggregated and curated stories. Edited contributed content for online daily report. Guided and reported coverage of the 2006 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tenn.
EDUCATION
Master of Arts in Digital Journalism and Design
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Bachelor of Science in Journalism
University of Florida
Gainesville, Fla.
Associate in Arts
St. Petersburg College
Clearwater, Fla.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Community Service Award – 2020 President’s Volunteer Service, Lifetime Achievement Award – 2015 First Place – Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists Griot Drum Awards, Features, Print, 2014
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Vice President, Board of Directors, Keep Pinellas Beautiful, 2020 to present Chairman, Environmental Advisory Board, City of Clearwater, 2016 to present
Puppyraiser, Southeastern Guide Dogs, 2014 to present
Pinellas County Habitat for Humanity, 2008, 2011
Public records auditor, Florida Society of News Editors, 2008
AFFILIATIONS
Graduate – City of Clearwater Citizens Academy, 2015
Member – University of Florida Alumni Association
Member – Alligator Alumni Association
Member – University of Florida Soils and Agronomy Club, 2002
Member – Lucent Technologies Explorer Program, 2001
Participant – March of the Living, 2000
Jared Leone 