Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

I'm a freelance digital journalist based in St. Louis. I recently returned home from New York for a an internship with DNAinfo.com, a hyperlocal news site focused on Manhattan, and now I'm looking to explore opportunities in journalism, social media and marketing. I'm also a contributing freelance writer for the University City and Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch.com sites in St. Louis, MO.

A 2010 graduate of Saint Louis University, with a degree in Communications and a certificate in Creative and Professional Writing, I was a weekly contributor the the campus newspaper, the University News, where I was a contributing reporter and editor. I was the News Director for SLU News22, the campus television newscast, helping to produce a record number of newscasts.

My goal as a journalist is giving viewers and insight into their communities and their their worlds. The news from down the block is every bit as important as the news that happens a world away.

In college media and my professional career, I have worked hard to attain a wide-ranging skill set that is valuable to today's newsrooms, marketing departments and public relations departments, using social media on daily basis, tweeting and retweeting information on several topics throughout the day, and opening dialog to viewers, and readers, and interacting with them, and give an organization a competitive edge.

I've interviewed people ranging from world-known personal safety expert Nancy Hightshoe, to political analyst Paul Begala, to TV personality Bill Nye (The Science Guy) to social activist and professor Dr. Cornel West while in college.

I'm eager to embrace new challenges in the rapidly changing landscape of journalism and new media. I embrace new ways to connect with the audience and make online, print, and broadcast news a two-way medium.

Work History

• Patch.com (AOL, Inc.)
• Freelance Reporter
• November 2010 to Present

• • Wrote on politics, community affairs and government beats
  • Reported on community events and local businesses
  • Wrote profiles on community leaders and outstanding citizens
  • Live-tweeted meetings to followers on Twitter
  • Photographed and recorded video of news stories

• Dierbergs
• Cashier
• October 2011 to Present

• Work as a customer service representative for the leading customer service-oriented grocery store chain in St. Louis.

• DNAinfo.com (New Media News, LLC.)
• Intern/Freelance Reporter
• June 2011 to August 2011

• • Spot on-scene reporting for breaking news and planned events in multiple locations in Manhattan
  • Summarized on-scene situation and relayed quotes and related information to the newsroom
  • Interviewed people of diverse backgrounds on multiple subject matters
  • Photographed and recorded news events as they unfolded
  • Researched news stories to ensure accuracy
  • Wrote over 50 bylined stories

• The University News (Saint Louis University)
• Contributing Reporter & Editor
• August 2008 to May 2010

• • Pursued enterprise and political pieces at the student-run weekly newspaper with a circulation of over 8,000
  • Interviewed university students and officials on multiple subjects
  • Assisted with the copy editing of stories on production nights

• SLU News22 (SLU TV, Saint Louis University)
• Anchor/Reporter & Producer
• August 2007 to May 2010

• • Served as News Director for one academic year (March 2009 – May 2010)
  • Delivered accurate campus news to over 6,000 on-campus viewers twice weekly
  • Produced daily one-minute news briefs that required research from multiple local, state, national and worldwide news sources
  • Interviewed several notable people, including former Mexican President Vicente Fox, Dr. Cornel West, and Bill Nye (the Science Guy)
  • Produced newscasts on nights I did not anchor, which included floor directing, camera operation, switching, and soundboard operation
  • Integrated Twitter and YouTube into broadcasts

• Student Media Production Team (Saint Louis University)
• Videographer & Editor
• August 2009 to May 2010

• • Filmed, produced, and edited videos for multiple clients at Saint Louis University; projects were delivered consistently before deadline
  • Worked closely with clients to ensure projects were produced to the highest standards, and address issues as they arose
  • Consistently worked to exceed expectations of clients

• Nancy Hightshoe Seminars
• Social Media & IT Consultant
• May 2009 to June 2011

• • Headed up social media and infrastructure management for an internationally-known personal safety expert
  • Set up a blog and Twitter component to website to increase reach with potential clients
  • Utilized media production skills to add video to website to highlight talents to prospective clients
  • Maintained computer equipment, and gave recommendations on equipment purchases

• Saint Louis Public Library
• Patron Services (Page)
• June 2009 to June 2011

• • Organized library materials in a neighborhood branch library
  • Multitasked several duties, which included answering reference questions, answering the telephone, library material circulation
  • Self-taught library procedures and circulation software to enhance value to staff
  • Collaborated with coworkers to improve workflow for fellow pages
  • Designed and implemented returned item organization system

• SLU News22 (Saint Louis University)
• News Director & Managing Editor
• March 2009 to May 2010

• • Assigned and advised reporters and staff on writing and production
  • Collaborated with other campus media to create strategic content sharing and cooperation
  • Oversaw day-to-day news department operations, editing and assembling newscast scripts

Education

• Saint Louis University
• Communication, Mass Communication, Creative and Professional Writing
• 2006 - 2010