● Collaborate closely with more than 50 highly skilled colleagues to prioritize writing and editing projects with finesse, flexibility and resourcefulness.
● Maintain final responsibility for news, business and features sections read by over 300,000 people, using excellent research skills to resolve questions in stories and presentations.
● Meet demanding deadlines with accuracy and poise, having only 2 newspaper corrections in 5 years.
● Take creative risks to summarize stories by writing concise, award-winning headlines and captions.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Web editor, 2008-present
● As 1 of 10 editors selected to manage Web site at night, have final authority to edit stories, videos and slideshows on dallasnews.com, decide what content to feature and track breaking news.
● Collaborate with 15 other editors to update newspaper Web site; use excellent interpersonal skills and knowledge of digital media to train other Web editors in HTML and content management system.
● Write and refine headlines and teasers with wit and precision, which improves site's search engine optimization and contributed to 30% year-over-year increase in unique visitors to dallasnews.com in 2009.
Copy editor, senior copy editor, 2005-present
● Use problem-solving skills, integrity and professionalism when evaluating and refining work of over 40 colleagues as one of last people to see paper before it's published.
● Edit stories for grammar, style, clarity, fairness and journalistic standards, acting as reader's advocate to ensure compelling coverage while maintaining reporter's voice and intent.
● 1 of 3 DMN copy editors out of 50 nominated for state headline-writing award; coordinated and edited 3 award-winning series that reached over 470,000 Sunday readers.
CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER-TIMES
Wire editor, 2004-2005
● Chose content for news, business and features sections, monitoring multiple news services to stay abreast of breaking news.
● Guided team of more than 15 page designers and editors to prioritize news developments, helping newspaper maintain solid audience base.
● Launched weekly entertainment magazine as part of 3-person team, working with designer on all decisions about content.
Copy editor, 2002-2005
● Edited news, business and features stories, contributing to paper's winning statewide awards.
● Paginated news and features sections, drawing readers in with photos, graphics, boxes and sidebars.
● Worked closely with reporters and editors and used variety of research databases to improve coverage.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Dallas, TX 2009-present
Feature writer/volunteer
● Report and write stories to bring awareness to Dallas chapter's mission, events and services.
MARCH OF DIMES
Corpus Christi, TX 2003-2005
Publications editor/ volunteer
● Produced fliers and newsletters, researching, writing and editing articles and compiling staff submissions to promote events that raised tens of thousands of dollars.
● Computer: Microsoft Office suite, Quark Xpress, Photoshop, content management systems, search engine optimization, HTML, social networking, Sound Forge, Flash, Dreamweaver, blogging software.
● Language: AP, MLA and Chicago Manual of Style; basic Spanish.
● Bachelor’s of arts, journalism, Baylor University,
Waco, TX 2002
● Multimedia and HTML classes, Richland College, Dallas,
TX 2006