J. R. Lind
Nashville,TN
Summary
Creative, versatile and dedicated veteran journalist with 15+ years of a proven track record of distilling complex concepts into compelling and understandable writing. Flexible, curious and enthusiastic about learning and communicating new topics with deadline-beating rapidity.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Staff Writer
Nashville Scene
Nashville, TN
04.2019 - Current
- Cover housing and development, historic preservation, agriculture, state and local politics, sports, culture and music, amassing more than 700 bylines.
- Launched monthly column focused on neighborhood history, culture, and development, now most-viewed recurring feature on publication's website.
- Coordinate annual In Memoriam issue, managing hundreds of stories and scores of contributors.
- Developed well-received cover packages on local veterans and legacy of Andrew Jackson in his hometown.
Freelance Reporter
Self-employed
Nashville, TN
07.2018 - Current
- Pitch, develop and report stories for local and national outlets including the New York Times, the Associated Press, The Tennessee Journal, the Nashville Post, Nashville Scene and Major League Soccer.
- Contributed to the Times' breaking coverage of Christmas Day bombing in Nashville.
Editor
Patch Media
Nashville
08.2016 - 07.2018
- Launched and operated seven Middle Tennessee local news sites for national digital local news operation, amassing more than 6,000 bylines with coverage in business, politics and government, crimes and courts, sports, community events and more.
- Produced daily newsletters and breaking news alerts with average open rate of more than 30 percent.
- Led and coordinated site-wide coverage of Nashville-area breaking news with national interest.
- Recognized by local historic preservation groups for coverage of the effort to remove James K. Polk's tomb from Tennessee's State Capitol and nominated for the Tennessee Bar Association's Fourth Estate Award for outstanding legal coverage.
Staff Writer
SouthComm Publishing
Nashville
11.2009 - 08.2016
- Covered real estate and development, manufacturing, courts, sports business and politics for The City Paper, Nashville Scene and Nashville Post with more than 1800 bylines.
- Launched The City Paper's news column, the Scene's sports column and was primary writer for the Post Politics blog.
- Produced twice-daily newsletters with average open rate of more than 25 percent.
Staff Writer
The Lebanon Democrat
Lebanon, TN
01.2006 - 12.2009
- Covered state and local government, politics and elections, business, industry, agriculture and real estate, religion and values and sports.
- Won Tennessee Press Association and Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors Awards for deadline reporting, features, business news, education and public service reporting.
Petty Officer Third Class
United States Navy
, United Kingdom
02.2002 - 02.2006
- Served in Illinois, California, Virginia and the United Kingdom.
- Honorably discharged.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TNSkills
- Associated Press style
- WordPress
- HTML
- Search engine optimization
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Microsoft Office
Timeline
Staff Writer
Nashville Scene
04.2019 - Current
Freelance Reporter
Self-employed
07.2018 - Current
Editor
Patch Media
08.2016 - 07.2018
Staff Writer
SouthComm Publishing
11.2009 - 08.2016
Staff Writer
The Lebanon Democrat
01.2006 - 12.2009
Petty Officer Third Class
United States Navy
02.2002 - 02.2006
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Middle Tennessee State University