My Resume
I’ve worked in journalism & media since 2006. My first byline was published a few months after I graduated high school, setting me on a course of perpetual learning, growth and adaptation over my 18-year career. Through it, I’ve acquired a broad and versatile media skillset.
To use the old cliche, I’ve done a little of everything in this business, from newspapers & magazines, to producing live TV & managing social media brands. Recently I’ve co-hosted & produced podcasts — one of which has reached over 4 million people across audio and video platforms. I’ve even found myself in an odd reversal of roles appearing on camera in a nationally televised documentary, as well as on widely viewed YouTube live streams.
From the sidelines of SEC football games to the swamps of the Carolina Lowcountry, from appearing on a Discovery documentary to walking the halls of federal courthouses, and many more incredible locales along the way, I’ve had the privilege to tell many impactful stories, meet amazing people, and find myself in surreal situations wondering, “Am I really here?”
What can a journalist do for you?
Reporters, producers and others on the “content” side of the news industry have diverse skillsets and employee traits useful in many career fields.
● Journalists must be adaptable and versatile — qualities necessary to survival as values in the news business have shifted away from specialists to prefer a “Jack-of-all-trades.” Constantly learning and applying new skills is survival in the news business.
● A journalist must be a fast learner with excellent reading comprehension and analytical skills. Our jobs and credibility depend on being able to quickly understand complex topics so we can be trusted to share accurate, useful information with the public.
● Every journalist must be an excellent communicator. The journalist’s superpower is to synthesize complex details into simple formats everyone can understand. To do that, we must be able to write and speak clearly, succinctly and compellingly.
● Organization, efficiency and multitasking are abilities inherent to any successful journalist. We keep calendars packed with meetings, Zoom calls and much more while also juggling today’s, tomorrow’s and next month’s assignments.
● Improvisation and problem-solving are marks of a good journalist. They’re directly tied to quick thinking, resourcefulness and preparedness. If you need someone who can overcome obstacles to “get it right” and “get it done” on deadline, hire a journalist.
● Being naturally inquisitive leads journalists to become thorough and competent researchers. We know where to look, who to ask and what tools to use to get answers we want. This helps us enrich our stories with valuable added context.
● With an eye for detail and commitment to accuracy, journalists excel at quality control. Even seemingly minor and cosmetic errors like spelling are anathema to a journalist. They damage both credibility and quality, so we’re vigilant against them.