Experience | The Dallas Morning News

Staff Writer: February 2016-January 2019

-- Covered the people and issues of Collin County as a metro reporter in a digital-focused newsroom. Guided by curiosity to find untold stories and bring them to life through clear, concise words.

-- Sourced and curated two to three stories a week and pitched them in a persuasive way to editors. As the only reporter covering one of the country’s fastest growing counties, I was a quick study on complex topics from transportation to education issues such as school finance, teacher pay and controversial school accountability ratings. I worked quickly to ask engaging questions and synthesize complex information.

-- Skilled researcher, interviewer and writer. I routinely juggled breaking news stories alongside complex, long-term enterprise stories for digital readers on dallasnews.com and print subscribers to The Dallas Morning News.

-- Cultivated and maintained relationships with city, school district and county sources and community stakeholders.

-- Wrote SEO-friendly headlines. Promoted stories on social media, often through photos and video, and occasionally as a radio and TV guest.

-- Regularly tracked stories’ metrics for online readership, including page views and average engaged minutes to understand what resonates with The News’ digital audience. This led to follow-ups, a series or enterprise stories. I also would adjust the headline to boost the story.

-- Recipient of The Dallas Morning News Community Journalist of the Year award for 2015, where I was lauded for concise and conversational writing.

-- Part of The Dallas Morning News team that was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2017 for the paper's coverage of the July 2016 ambush that killed five police officers in downtown Dallas.

Neighborsgo Reporter/Section Editor: October 2011-January 2016

-- Scouted feature and in-depth posts on interesting characters, impactful city issues and crazy tales like a surrogate who gave birth to her granddaughter.

-- Member of the reporting team that investigated government compliance with the Texas Public Information Act. The project, “On the Record,” won second place in the Freedom of Information Category in the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors 2015 awards.

-- Developed and pitched content ideas and edited multi-channel stories. Posted articles to dallasnews.com and shared them on social media. Shot photos and video for multimedia storytelling packages. Managed calendar for deadlines and organized interviews and photo shoots.

-- Worked as a team with a designer, photographer and contributing community writers each week to organize the weekly edition paper.

Experience | The Norman Transcript

Education Reporter: September 2009-May 2011

-- Covered school board meetings and breaking news on tight deadline and chronicled educational trends for Norman Public Schools and the University of Oklahoma. Shot photos and video and edited video for online story posts.

Education

The University of Oklahoma: August 2005-May 2009

-- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication. Member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Writing coach, assistant managing editor and staff writer at The Oklahoma Daily.