Experience
Freelance writer
2016 – current
My stories have been published by The Guardian, The New Republic, NPR Music, Rolling Stone Country, 100 Days in Appalachia, Faith and Leadership, Green Building & Design and Lapham’s Quarterly. I have also produced branded content for tourism sites.
Folkways reporter, Inside Appalachia
2019 – current
I am a part-time reporter for West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Inside Appalachia folkways project, a grant-funded reporting project that helps preserve Appalachia’s folk traditions. My work includes producing radio stories, taking photos and making short video documentaries.
Producer, Appalachian Care Chronicles
2023 – current
I handle field recording for a podcast series about West Virginia healthcare professionals and master the finished episodes.
Multimedia specialist, WVU Extension
2019 – current
I produce articles, photos, and video for the WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program.
Managing editor, WV Living, Wonderful West Virginia, and special projects
2016 – 2019
I was managing editor of WV Living, a quarterly lifestyle magazine that is the flagship publication of New South Media. I was responsible for assigning, managing, and editing stories by the magazine’s staff and freelancers, shooting photos and assigning photos to freelance photographers, coordinating the magazine’s design, and writing for the publication. I also managed special projects, including a travel guide for the West Virginia Division of Tourism, and Wonderful West Virginia, a wildlife magazine NSM publishes for the state Division of Natural Resources.
Managing editor, West Virginia Focus
2015 – 2016
I spent six issues as managing editor of West Virginia Focus, a bimonthly business and policy magazine published by New South Media. I also worked with “Turn This Town Around,” a campaign run by West Virginia Focus, the West Virginia Community Development Hub, and West Virginia Public Broadcasting to help small, struggling West Virginia towns revitalize their image and economy.
Life and community engagement editor, Charleston Daily Mail
2013 – 2015
As life editor, I managed the newspaper’s life and entertainment sections, which were published every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The “community engagement” part of the position included finding new ways to connect with audiences (social media, blogs, reader participation projects, etc.).
Accomplishments:
- Managed several highly successful reader engagement projects
- Created “Charley West’s Bonus Tracks” original music video series
- Launched “The Pop Machine” entertainment blog
Reporter, Charleston Daily Mail
2009 – 2013
During my time as a reporter, I covered education, health and state government.
Accomplishments:
- Award-winning coverage of the Upper Big Branch disaster, the Sissonville gas line explosion, and other major news events
- Chosen to represent Digital First Media at the Online News Association’s annual conference in 2013
- Winner of DFM’s inaugural “DFMie” for use of social media
Skills
- Writing
- Copy editing
- Audio recording
- Audio editing
- Videography
- Video Editing
- Photography
- Project management
- Social media promotion
Awards
Best Mountain State Heritage
2023 Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards
Best Mountain State Heritage
2022 Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards
Best Light Feature
2021 Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards
Best Mountain State Heritage
2021 Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards
Best Mountain State Heritage
2020 Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards
Honorable Mention
Best American Sportswriting 2020 for “The Greatest’s First Fight”
First place, “Best Lifestyles Feature”
West Virginia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest 2015
First place, Reporting of Governmental Affairs
West Virginia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest 2013
Education
University of Charleston
B.A., Mass Communications — 2005 – 2009
Graduated summa cum laude, named “Mass Communications Student of the Year” in 2009, served as editor and publisher of the campus newspaper “The Eagle”