SUMMARY
Award-winning and experienced multimedia reporter looking to share stories with impact. Good teammate and team leader. Developed stories that have state and national interest. Received assignments and covered stories with state and national significance for media groups including the Associated Press, Reuters and the Tampa Bay Times. Enjoys finding and disseminating 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 present
National Content Editor
Cover national and international breaking news, trending and viral stories for radio, newspaper and television digital platforms. Use analytics and other online reporting tools for quick and nimble coverage adjustments.
University of South Florida St. Petersburg Aug. 2015 to Aug. 2016 Graduate Research Assistant
Helped teach, plan, edit and oversee production of Neighborhood News Bureau, a capstone reporting class for senior and graduate students who produce a digital community news product covering the predominately low-income, black neighborhoods in St. Petersburg.
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
- The Associated Press: Covered state and national politics and court cases in Tampa Bay area.
- St. Petersburg Times: Wrote stories for Brandon, Clearwater and Largo regional editions and weekly “Top of the Class” feature.
- Tampa Bay Newspapers: Followed local government and breaking news for network of weekly community 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.
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 (www.alligator.org), the country’s largest circulating 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 published 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 stories and edited content as part of daily report for online news magazine. Helped cover and guide coverage of Bonnaroo, a week-long annual music 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
President’s Volunteer Service, Lifetime Achievement Award – 2015
First Place – Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists Griot Drum Awards, Features, Print, 2014
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Environmental Advisory Board – City of Clearwater, 2016 to present
Assistant area coordinator, puppy raiser, breeder host – 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 Citizen 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
