EDUCATION
California State University, Chico, Calif. – Expected completion May 2013
M.A., Communication Studies
- Instruction experience: Teaching associate for three sections of undergraduate Speech Communication Fundamentals course. Guest lecturer on topics of gender and the news media.
Whitworth University, Spokane, Wash. – 2009 Summa Cum Laude
B.A., Journalism and Mass Communications, minors in visual communications, English
Cumulative GPA: 3.92
- Research work: Weyerhaeuser Younger Scholars fellowship for research on online journalism using a blog and research paper and a McDonald’s Opportunity Scholars grant to work with a professor and fellow student on a quantitative study of communication methods in cross‐sex friendships both presented at an intercollegiate conference spring 2009
- Off-campus studies: month-long study trip to New York City and Washington, D.C., to meet with media executives about the industry
- Academic achievements: recipient of the 2009 Whitworth University Alumni Ideals Award; recipient of the 2009 communication studies department Outstanding Communicator award; recipient of the communication studies 2009 department writing award; 2005-2009 Laureate Society member
- Communication/journalism-related courses: reporting for mass media, article and feature writing, media law, media ethics, editing, layout and design, online journalism, communication research, media history, media criticism, video production, Photoshop, communications theories, creative writing
- A variety of other coursework including international relations, world religions, U.S. government/politics, women/gender studies, multicultural literature
JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE
Managing Editor, September 2009‐May 2011
Bigfork Eagle and West Shore News, Hagadone Corp., Bigfork, Mont.
Manage and oversee all non-advertising content and production for the weekly Bigfork Eagle and West Shore News; coordinate with reporters, correspondents and columnists; act as a news liaison between the two publications and other Hagadone newspapers; copy edit all stories; paginate both publications; design and maintain websites; post stories and create photo galleries for the web; report and take photos for both, covering local news, education, features and the arts; provide content for other newspapers in the Northwest Montana News Network; write a biweekly column; manage editorial budget
Managing Editor, July 2009-September 2009
Post Community Newspapers, The Post Co., Eastern Idaho
Managed and oversaw all non-advertising content and production for the weekly Jefferson Star and Shelley Pioneer and related publications; coordinated with reporters, correspondents and columnists; acted as a news liaison between the Star and Pioneer and the Post Register; copy edited stories for the publications; paginated the Jefferson Star; reported and took photos as needed
Reporter, May 2009‐June 2009
Post Community Newspapers, The Post Co., Eastern Idaho
Reported and wrote stories as a news reporter for three Post Co. publications mostly for the weekly Jefferson Star and Shelley Pioneer and also the daily Post Register; assisted in copy editing the Jefferson Star; developed a story budget
Online Editor, September 2008‐May 2009
The Whitworthian, Whitworth University, Spokane, Wash.
Managed the content and production daily for whitworthian.com; coordinated with section editors on planning blogs, packages, multimedia and other content; copy edited and posted stories two days a week; acted as a liaison with College Media Network, the site’s host; developed new pages and features for the site including a student government directory and Twitter news updates; provided weekly site traffic reports and mini‐lessons on online journalism; served on the Editorial Board and wrote editorials; worked on a redesign and upgrade of the site with host; site recognized with an ACP Online Pacemaker; site recognized as first place in “Best Affiliated Web Site” in the Region 10 Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists
Reporting intern, May 2008‐August 2008
Wood River Journal, The Post Co., Hailey, Idaho
Reported and wrote 115 stories as a news reporter for the weekly publication; covered courts, crime, and city and county government; developed enterprise stories and features including a series on affordable work force housing; wrote occasional news updates for the Web; copy edited Sun Valley Dining Summer ’08; assisted in copy editing the weekly publication; attended weekly press briefings, government meetings; developed a weekly story budget; took photos as needed
Editor in Chief, September 2007‐May 2008
The Whitworthian, Whitworth University, Spokane, Wash.
Managed production of the weekly 16‐20 page print edition and the daily‐updated online edition; managed 13 editors and a total staff of 50; acted as a liaison between The Whitworthian and members of the Whitworth community; served on the Editorial Board and wrote editorials; led and organized the transition to having daily online content; managed the newspaper’s budget; led and directed weekly meetings; organized the creation of and compiled a staff manual; created production and online policies
Layout/Graphics Editor, September 2005‐May 2007
The Whitworthian, Whitworth University, Spokane, Wash.
Managed a small graphics staff and freelancers for the weekly 20‐page publication; worked on a redesign of the publication alongside the editor in chief; worked with section editors on layout and provided weekly feedback and critiques; designed graphics and pages as needed
SKILLS AND STRENGTHS
- Ability to manage time effectively, meet deadlines, work well independently and with a team
- Experience in a variety of writing styles (news, feature, advertising, online, PR, persuasive, analytical, creative), design in a variety of mediums (newspaper, online, advertising/promotional, business), new media (HTML/CSS, blogging, Twitter, social bookmarking, social networking, mapping, video and video editing), management of production and staffs
- Experience with public speaking and lecturing in small and large groups
- Competent researcher and reporter with commitments to excellence, accuracy and innovation
- Customer service and public relations experience
- Mastery of MS programs, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Quark Express; proficiency with Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premier Elements; quick learner of new programs
- Mastery of Standard English; knowledge of AP Stylebook, MLA and APA styles, and other usage guidebooks
JOURNALISM-RELATED AWARDS
- Individual awards including first place in “Best Feature Story, General,” “Best Spot News Coverage,” Best Feature Photo” and “Best Photo Essay; second place in “Environmental/Natural Resource Issues,” “Education Issues,” “Government Issues,” “Agricultural Issues” and “Best Photo Essay”; third place “General Writing Excellence” and “Government Issues,” and honorable mention in “Best News Photo” all from the Montana Newspaper Association’s 2010 Better Newspaper Contest. Collective awards for the Bigfork Eagle as a whole included first place for “Best Website,” and third-place awards for “Special Projects,” “Best Front Page” and “Best Sports Page.”
- Individual awards including first place in “Best Educational Reporting” and “Best Government Reporting,” second place in “Best Personality Feature Story” and honorable mention in “Best Business/Economy/Technology Reporting” from the Montana Newspaper Association’s 2009 Better Newspaper Contest. Collective awards for the Bigfork Eagle as a whole included the Thomas Dimsdale Sweepstakes Award, Weeklies Division I Sweepstakes Award, first places in “Best Overall Design and Composition” and “Best Online News Product,” second place in “Best Editorial Page” and third place in “General Excellence.”
- Second place in “Online In-depth Reporting” in the Region 10 Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists
- Outstanding Communicator 2009 and Whitworthian Legacy Award 2010 (both given by the communication studies department at Whitworth University)
- 2009 Online Pacemaker winner from the Associated Collegiate Press for whitworthian.com (while I was online editor)
- First Place in “Best Affiliated Web Site” for whitworthian.com in the Region 10 Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists in both 2008 and 2009 (while I was online editor)
- Third place in “Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper” for The Whitworthian in the Region 10 Mark of Excellence Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists (while I was editor-in-chief)
- Third place in “Best of Show” in the 4-year weekly tabloid division for The Whitworthian at the National College Media Convention (while I was editor-in-chief)
- “Idaho Journalist of the Year” by Idaho Journalism Advisers Association in 2005
- First recipient and honoree of the “Linabary Award: Idaho Falls High School’s Journalist of the Year” in 2005
CONTACT
If you would like more information, please e-mail jlinabary09@gmail.com
*References are available upon request.*
