Work
Northwest Herald, Shaw Media, July 2020 – Present
As the associate editor of the Northwest Herald, I oversee a newsroom of four full-time news reporters and assign coverage as needed to freelancers and other Shaw Media staff reporters. I use my background as a reporter to help our team tackle ambitious projects while also juggling daily coverage, providing them tangible tools and advice to improve their reporting and writing while also providing the guidance they need to keep long-term projects moving forward.
Lake County News-Sun, Chicago Tribune Media Group, February 2016 – July 2020
My position at the Lake County News-Sun started as an education-focused reporter, responsible for continuing coverage of Lake County’s largest school district and for producing stories involving the more than 40 other school districts in the county. My role has since expanded to include city and county government coverage. My work requires me to not only think about what the local Lake County audience would be interested in but also how it would appeal to a larger audience at the Chicago Tribune. I also at times need to produce photo and video content to accompany my articles.
My recent coverage has included investigations into the hiring of a Chicago Public Schools employee fired for sexual abuse, into the preferential treatment of police officers suspected of driving under the influence and the role of video gambling dollars in the April election.
Northwest Herald, Shaw Media, October 2012 – February 2016
As the city of Crystal Lake reporter for the Northwest Herald, I am responsible for covering the newspaper's most populated community. I was asked to take over the beat in the fall of 2014 after covering the north towns beat, a collection of 11 communities, five school districts, the county's conservation district and the Fox Waterway Agency. In addition to normal beat coverage, Northwest Herald reporters are required to work rotating evening and weekend breaking news shifts and to turn in front-page centerpiece features that will appeal across coverage areas.
Over the years, I have developed a particular interest in data-driven reporting, using databases to find local trends and using statistics to give context to otherwise routine articles. By converting these reservoirs of information into interactive charts, graphics and maps, I have also been able to give the readers who want it a next step in learning more or a way to look at their own school, hospital or park.
Sauk Valley Media, Shaw Media, April 2011 - October 2012
I covered state issues and the city of Dixon for Sauk Valley Media, which publishes the Dixon Telegraph, the Daily Gazette and a combined weekend publication. In April 2012, I broke the the Rita Crundwell story when I received a tip that the FBI was at City Hall. Crundwell, the city comptroller, was eventually indicted for misappropriating $53 million in city funds. In the chaos that followed, my column, Dateline Dixon, became a must-read, answering questions readers had about the case and addressing rumors (and often refuting them) in a way that didn't give them credence.
Beyond traditional coverage, I have coordinated with other reporters to create information graphics for their stories (and, something new for Sauk Valley Media, standalone graphics), used my radio background to let readers hear the voices of the unemployed in the Sauk Valley, and created a Dateline Dixon Twitter account to see if there's an interest in city-specific social media coverage.
Reuters, August - December 2010
During my semester as an intern for the Brussels bureau, I covered the European Union and Belgium, particularly social issues like education and lifestyle topics for Reuters Life!, including pieces about Brussels fashion and Belgium beer. I also assisted during major events, including European summits and the austerity protests during which tens of thousand protested in Brussels.
Bismarck Tribune, Lee Enterprises, May - August 2010
As a general assignment reporter, I covered a wide variety of topics, including crime, city and county government and agriculture. I wrote features on stun guns, the lieutenant governor’s involvement in the sale of a North Dakota cooperative and the questionable rescinding of the sale of a city hall. I also filled in as a photographer and trained the newsroom in how to make information graphics in Adobe Illustrator. I developed a guide for current and future employees on how to effectively use and create bar, line and pie graphs.
Missouri Digital News, August 2008 - May 2010
During my first year at Missouri Digital News, I covered the 2008 elections and the 2009 spring legislative session. I dealt with complicated issues and process, making them understandable for audiences of both print newspapers and radio stations across the state. My second year, I was the assistant news editor for the bureau. I managed the newsroom, edited print and radio copy, taught students reporting skills and about politics and was the liaison between the bureau and the Columbia Missourian. I created the position of a graphic reporter at the bureau. I also developed a social media presence with Twitter and a blog.
Boonville Daily News, June - August 2009
I covered the school board, city council, planning and zoning commission and tourism for a small Missouri town as a stringer.
VOX Magazine, June - August 2009
I contributed articles to this weekly insert for the Columbia Missourian, particularly for the On the Screen section. I wrote articles about the local filming of an independent feature and the popularization of 3-D movies.
As the associate editor of the Northwest Herald, I oversee a newsroom of four full-time news reporters and assign coverage as needed to freelancers and other Shaw Media staff reporters. I use my background as a reporter to help our team tackle ambitious projects while also juggling daily coverage, providing them tangible tools and advice to improve their reporting and writing while also providing the guidance they need to keep long-term projects moving forward.
Lake County News-Sun, Chicago Tribune Media Group, February 2016 – July 2020
My position at the Lake County News-Sun started as an education-focused reporter, responsible for continuing coverage of Lake County’s largest school district and for producing stories involving the more than 40 other school districts in the county. My role has since expanded to include city and county government coverage. My work requires me to not only think about what the local Lake County audience would be interested in but also how it would appeal to a larger audience at the Chicago Tribune. I also at times need to produce photo and video content to accompany my articles.
My recent coverage has included investigations into the hiring of a Chicago Public Schools employee fired for sexual abuse, into the preferential treatment of police officers suspected of driving under the influence and the role of video gambling dollars in the April election.
Northwest Herald, Shaw Media, October 2012 – February 2016
As the city of Crystal Lake reporter for the Northwest Herald, I am responsible for covering the newspaper's most populated community. I was asked to take over the beat in the fall of 2014 after covering the north towns beat, a collection of 11 communities, five school districts, the county's conservation district and the Fox Waterway Agency. In addition to normal beat coverage, Northwest Herald reporters are required to work rotating evening and weekend breaking news shifts and to turn in front-page centerpiece features that will appeal across coverage areas.
Over the years, I have developed a particular interest in data-driven reporting, using databases to find local trends and using statistics to give context to otherwise routine articles. By converting these reservoirs of information into interactive charts, graphics and maps, I have also been able to give the readers who want it a next step in learning more or a way to look at their own school, hospital or park.
Sauk Valley Media, Shaw Media, April 2011 - October 2012
I covered state issues and the city of Dixon for Sauk Valley Media, which publishes the Dixon Telegraph, the Daily Gazette and a combined weekend publication. In April 2012, I broke the the Rita Crundwell story when I received a tip that the FBI was at City Hall. Crundwell, the city comptroller, was eventually indicted for misappropriating $53 million in city funds. In the chaos that followed, my column, Dateline Dixon, became a must-read, answering questions readers had about the case and addressing rumors (and often refuting them) in a way that didn't give them credence.
Beyond traditional coverage, I have coordinated with other reporters to create information graphics for their stories (and, something new for Sauk Valley Media, standalone graphics), used my radio background to let readers hear the voices of the unemployed in the Sauk Valley, and created a Dateline Dixon Twitter account to see if there's an interest in city-specific social media coverage.
Reuters, August - December 2010
During my semester as an intern for the Brussels bureau, I covered the European Union and Belgium, particularly social issues like education and lifestyle topics for Reuters Life!, including pieces about Brussels fashion and Belgium beer. I also assisted during major events, including European summits and the austerity protests during which tens of thousand protested in Brussels.
Bismarck Tribune, Lee Enterprises, May - August 2010
As a general assignment reporter, I covered a wide variety of topics, including crime, city and county government and agriculture. I wrote features on stun guns, the lieutenant governor’s involvement in the sale of a North Dakota cooperative and the questionable rescinding of the sale of a city hall. I also filled in as a photographer and trained the newsroom in how to make information graphics in Adobe Illustrator. I developed a guide for current and future employees on how to effectively use and create bar, line and pie graphs.
Missouri Digital News, August 2008 - May 2010
During my first year at Missouri Digital News, I covered the 2008 elections and the 2009 spring legislative session. I dealt with complicated issues and process, making them understandable for audiences of both print newspapers and radio stations across the state. My second year, I was the assistant news editor for the bureau. I managed the newsroom, edited print and radio copy, taught students reporting skills and about politics and was the liaison between the bureau and the Columbia Missourian. I created the position of a graphic reporter at the bureau. I also developed a social media presence with Twitter and a blog.
Boonville Daily News, June - August 2009
I covered the school board, city council, planning and zoning commission and tourism for a small Missouri town as a stringer.
VOX Magazine, June - August 2009
I contributed articles to this weekly insert for the Columbia Missourian, particularly for the On the Screen section. I wrote articles about the local filming of an independent feature and the popularization of 3-D movies.
Education
University of Missouri
Bachelor of Journalism with an emphasis in Print and Digital Media and a minor in German
Graduated December 2010, Summa Cum Laude
Special note: Took university courses in reporting, newspaper editing and design, visual communications, computer-assisted reporting and information graphics. I also received training in XHTML and Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Flash.
Bachelor of Journalism with an emphasis in Print and Digital Media and a minor in German
Graduated December 2010, Summa Cum Laude
Special note: Took university courses in reporting, newspaper editing and design, visual communications, computer-assisted reporting and information graphics. I also received training in XHTML and Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Flash.
Honors and Activities
Deans List every semester
Walter Williams Scholar
President of Model United Nations, January 2009 - May 2010
Vice president of programming for Journalism Scholars Association, August 2008 - May 2009
Primary school tutor for A Way with Words and Numbers, September 2007 - May 2009
Debate monitor for International Students at Missouri, January - May 2008
Walter Williams Scholar
President of Model United Nations, January 2009 - May 2010
Vice president of programming for Journalism Scholars Association, August 2008 - May 2009
Primary school tutor for A Way with Words and Numbers, September 2007 - May 2009
Debate monitor for International Students at Missouri, January - May 2008
References available upon request, and additional information is also available on my LinkedIn portfolio.