Experience | Projects | Blogging | Skills | Honors | Activities | Education

View my LinkedIn page to see more details and read recommendations from my past positions.

Read recommendations from my nominations to the UWIRE100.

Experience

Industry Dive, Washington, D.C.

• Director of Data and Graphics (July 2021-present) – lead a new team creating data- and visually-driven projects across more than 20 publications in a newsroom of 100-plus journalists
• Senior Software Engineer (November 2017-July 2021) – build and improve internal tools used across departments, with a focus on editorial enhancements; projects include implementing article locking, autosaving and content types

McClatchy, Washington, D.C.

• Data Developer (September 2015-November 2017) – build data tools, such as election result system and document uploader, and manage vendor tools, such as Datawrapper and Maps4News, for all 30 McClatchy newsrooms; created company-wide communities for data journalists and news developers; lead training sessions for D.C. bureau; advise local newsrooms on data and investigate projects; occasionally create or collaborate on custom graphics, such as health care vote predictions, power outage search tool and refugee map

The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.

• Mobile Innovations Producer (August-September 2015)– producer for Project Rainbow
• Local Data Projects Editor (January 2013-August 2015) – manage medium- and long-term journalism and technology projects for the local desk: crime, election results, transportation, education
• Special Projects and News Applications Producer (June-December 2012) – manage projects and develop applications for the newsroom, including a Document Cloud uploading + publishing app built in Django and improved user submission forms using Google App Scripts and JavaScript
• World and National Security Producer (June 2011-May 2012) – oversee digital production for two key coverage areas; coordinated coverage for Zero Day multi-part special report on cybersecurity
• Health, Science, Environment and Wellness Producer (December 2010-May 2011) – oversee digital production for three areas of national coverage (health, science and environment) and one area of Local Living coverage (wellness)
• Led efforts as a section producer to improve workflow in the CMS and streamline story production
• Create site corrections/suggestion form

Georgetown University

• Adjunct Lecturer (May 2013-present) – teach graduate-level web development for media class for journalism and PR students

Howard University

• Adjunct Lecturer (September-December 2018) – teach undergraduate-level web development class for journalism, media and communications students

Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University

Publish2, Lansdowne, Va.

• News Innovation Manager (September 2009-November 2010) – worked with journalists and news organizations to use content- and link-sharing tools; provided support for more than 10,000 registered users; oversaw bug reporting; conducted new feature and quality assurance testing; work on front-end web development, including HTML/CSS and some PHP; worked with product-development team in Agile process; managed Wired Journalists network; conducted research

Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas

• Web News Intern (June-August 2009) – planned and created new JFK page using the SIMILE Exhibit framework; co-created engagement strategy proposal and social media best practices guide; reported breaking and daily news stories for online and print; trained journalists to use social and other tools; occasionally worked as online producer and manager of main Twitter account; managed main Facebook fan page; created a hub page of staff Twitter accounts

CoPress, The Internet

• Adviser (June 2009-February 2010)
• Podcast Producer/Co-Host (August-November 2009) – produced, recorded and co-hosted College Media Lab (formerly This Week in CoPress) podcasts, which included interviews with innovative student journalists, as well as media and technology professionals
• Team Member and Co-founder (August 2008-November 2009) – worked with team to create a community, hosting solutions and a technical support network for student news organizations
• Community Director (November 2008-May 2009) – managed social media presence; recruited new members and partner organizations; managed discussion forum

The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.

• Editor at Large for Online and Multimedia (Fall 2008-Spring 2009) – advised online and multimedia production for TheMiamiHurricane.com; conducted video shooting and editing training sessions
• Editor in Chief (Fall 2007-Spring 2008) – managed print and online news operations for twice-weekly newspaper; oversaw an editorial staff of more than 100; implemented video reporting; emphasized breaking news online; planned and oversaw creation of a new Web site using WordPress, which launched in August 2008
• Other roles (Fall 2005-Summer 2008) – news editor, assistant news editor, page designer, copy editor, videographer, video editor, news reporter, arts and entertainment writer, theater critic, photographer; art director for summer 2008 special edition

The Miami Herald, Miami, Fla.

• Metro Intern (May-August 2008) – wrote news and feature stories for daily Broward Metro section, including an enterprise piece about Alzheimer’s patients who wander from their caregivers and a story about a police K-9 memorial service; wrote breaking news for online; shot and edited nine videos and six photos; contributed to video task force
• Freelance Writer (June-August 2005) – wrote news feature stories for weekly Broward Neighbors section

St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Fla.

• Freelance Correspondent (August-September 2007) – interviewed and compiled information from University of Miami students for a story on unsolicited loans

South Florida Sun Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

• Metro Intern (June-August 2007) – worked as a beat reporter covering four municipalities; wrote news and feature stories for daily Local (metro) section, including coverage of a park no one could afford to run; contributed to summer intern blog

Ibis yearbook, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.

• Staff Writer (Spring 2006-Spring 2007) – wrote stories on topics such as former President Bill Clinton’s on-campus remarks and an event with Firefox co-creator Blake Ross

Jewish Journal and Shalom Today, Forum Publishing Group, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

• Reporting Intern (July-August 2006) – wrote news and feature stories for weekly publication aimed at Jewish communities in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, including a feature about a Klezmer fusion band and a profile of a rabbi

Projects

• Voices from the Future of Journalism – front-end developer for Poynter College Fellowship 2009 site, a side project I worked on with two other fellows; worked on planning and requirements, as well as implemented the designer’s mockups by modifying the default WordPress theme using HTML, CSS and PHP
• Multimedia Standards – producer/project manager for site offering expert insights and commentary on journalistic multimedia storytelling; recorded and edited audio interview; other duties included quality assurance, copyediting and building profile pages (March-May 2009)
• Special Olympics Live – “behind the scenes” webcasting team member, social media director (January-February 2009)
• My Role Model – social media director, design team member, videographer and video editor for a project highlighting stories about the being a role model to high school students (October-December 2008)
• Special Olympics South Florida – videographer and video editor for athlete profile project (September 2008-November 2008)
• Witnessing History in the West Grove – led a video team to document the stories of local residents on Election Day; videographer and video editor (November 2008)
• Fish At Bay – videographer, video editor, photographer, writer and copy editor for site about Biscayne Bay (January-May 2008)
• National Park Service – audio reporter, audio editor, photographer and writer for two profile projects (November 2007-May 2009)

Blogging

• The Linchpen – maintain a personal blog about online journalism, journalism education and assorted other topics (November 2007-present)
• Tomorrow’s News, Tomorrow’s Journalists – co-administrator and contributor to international blogging ring of young journalists (August 2008-August 2009)
• My First Job – contributed to Sun Sentinel intern blog, which is no longer online (June-August 2007)
• China travel blog – contributed to class travel blog during six-week feature writing study abroad trip (May-June 2007)

Skills

• Language: conversational Spanish speaking skills, proficient in reading and understanding spoken language
• Coding: Python/Django, HTML, CSS, JavaScript/jQuery, PHP, SQL
• Software (Mac, Windows, Linux): WordPress, including themes and plugins; Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro; Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator

Honors

Society of Professional Journalists

• College Journalist of the Year (Florida), Sunshine State Awards (2009)
• First Place, National Mark of Excellence, online news reporting, GOP Spanish-language debate, Greg Linch and The Miami Hurricane staff (2007-2008)
• First Place, Region 3 Mark of Excellence for general news reporting, faculty housing series (2005-2006)
• University of Miami chapter: President (2008-2009), vice president (2006-2007) and programming director (2005-2009)

UWIRE 100

• Twice named one of the top 100 student journalists in the U.S. (2007-2008, 2008-2009)

Horizon Interactive Awards 2009

• Gold, College and University, Special Olympics Live
• Gold, Public Service / Non-Profit, Special Olympics Live
• Gold, College and University, Witnessing History in the West Grove

Broadcast Education Association, Student Interactive Multimedia Competition (group projects)

• First Place, Witnessing History in the West Grove – led a video team, shot and edited footage
• Third Place, Fish At Bay , CVJ 519 spring 2008 – videographer, video editor, copyeditor; writer and photographer for history section

National Press Photographer Association

• First Place, Multimedia Project, monthly multimedia contest for December, Witnessing History in the West Grove (Nov. 2008)

Florida College Press Association

• Honorable Mention, Better Newspaper Contest, Feature Writing, The team that Mo’ built (2007)
• Student Board Member (August 2007-May 2009) – first student member elected to board

Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholar 2005

Activities

Online News Association

• Board of Directors (2013-2019)
• Conference programming committee (2015)
• Conference live video streaming team leader (2009-2013)
• “Have An Impact, Then Measure It” co-presenter (2012)
• ONA DC meetup volunteer (2009-2014)
• 10th anniversary committee member (2009)
• Member (2008-present)

Hacks/Hackers

• Co-organizer, Hacks/Hackers DC local meetup group (2010-2014)

BarCamp News Innovation

• “The new LAMP stack (Literature, Art, Music and Poetry): What the analog  humanities can teach us about digital media” presenter (2014)
• “Measuring Journalism by Impact” co-presenter (2013)
• “New Metrics” presenter and “3 metrics that matter: workshop following a.m. session” co-presenter (2012)
• “GitHub for News” (2011)
• “Rethinking Our Thinking” presenter (2010)
• Attendee (2009-2014)

Society of Professional Journalists

• “Talking Tech: Learning the Language(s) of Web Developers — and Then Some Code” presenter, DC JournCamp (2013)
• “How I Landed My First Job” panelist, region 2 conference  (2013)

We Media

• Managed team of livebloggers and curators (2010)
• Co-managed team of livebloggers, tweets and videographers (2009)
• Attend annual spring conference in Miami (2007-2010)

Society for News Design

• 2011 conference video recording coordinator
• Streamed live video of New York meet-up (March 2009)
• Participated in Revenue 2.0 event in Washington, D.C. (March 2009)

Poynter College Fellowship

• One of 40 students to participate in annual 12-day fellowship, which included workshop-style sessions and reporting (May 17-29, 2009)
• Guest speaker at 2010 Poynter College Fellowship

Beyond Bootcamp 2009

• Audio workshop assistant – assisted workshop teachers and students with teaching SoundtrackPro, identifying audio story ideas and editing narratives

Education

University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.

• Graduated summa cum laude with a double major in journalism and political science, minor in Spanish
• President’s Honor Roll, Provost’s Honor Roll, Dean’s List

Summer study abroad

Design and Photography in Spain

• Shot and edited photos, designed print newspaper and magazine pages and wrote two feature stories [site deactivated]

Feature Writing in China

• Wrote feature stories for class Web site and kept a travel blog [site deactivated]

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