Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Timeline
Generic

BLAIR YANKEY

Berrien Springs,MI

Summary

Experienced and motivated media and communication professional seeking to maintain a full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management, and problem-solving skills.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience

Work History

City/education Reporter

The Elkhart Truth
09.2017 - Current
  • Develop story ideas and write, shoot, and edit news content on all things happening in Elkhart County with primary emphasis on local government and education.
  • Shoot photographs for stories as well as stand-alone art
  • Manage the newspaper's Facebook and Twitter accounts and disseminate news content through social media for better engagement with audiences and faster reporting
  • Collaborate with other journalists, communication professionals and community leaders to produce well-rounded and comprehensive news coverage.
  • Develop relationships with sources and contacts to gain additional insight.

News reporter

The Peru Tribune
02.2016 - 09.2017
  • Conceptualized, pitched, assigned and monitored stories from origination to publication.
  • Managed and promoted content on social media.
  • Turned complicated news issues into easy-to-read content.
  • Presented news by researching, developing and covering field news events.
  • Interviewed sources and developed relationships with informants to obtain vital information for stories.

Intern

Kalamazoo Gazette
01.2015 - 05.2015
  • Reported hard and soft news and feature stories ensuring presence among the top social media outlets
  • Conducted interviews with community members on a variety of beats against hard deadlines
  • Moderated discussions with readers
  • Managed content and created photo galleries for my stories
  • Interacted with Mlive commenters, moderated discussion

Intern

Western Herald Newspaper
09.2014 - 12.2014
  • Wrote stories for news and arts and entertainment sections for both online and print
  • Copy edited articles for both print and online
  • Pitched story ideas in weekly
  • Maintained responsibility for distribution of news throughout Western Michigan University campus

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism

Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
12.2014

Associate of Arts - Communications

Southwestern Michigan College
Dowagiac, Michigan
05.2011

Skills

  • Writing and research
  • Fact checking
  • Newsgathering
  • Detail-oriented
  • Verbal and written communication
  • Social media and public relations
  • Time management
  • Interviewing
  • Editing

References

Stephanie Krol

Owner at Stephanie Krol Public Relations

773-580-9726

stephanie@skprmedia.com

Jon Gard

Managing Editor at The Elkhart Truth

574-276-4124

jgard@elkharttruth.com

Lejene Breckenridge-Peete

Former news editor at The Elkhart Truth

574-304-0777

lbpeete@gmail.com

Julie Beer

Chief of staff and communications coordinator at Concord Community Schools

574-518-2120

jbeer@concord.k12.in.us

Lois Tomaszewski

Former managing editor at The Peru Tribune

574-341-9562

loistomaszewski@yahoo.com


Timeline

City/education Reporter

The Elkhart Truth
09.2017 - Current

News reporter

The Peru Tribune
02.2016 - 09.2017

Intern

Kalamazoo Gazette
01.2015 - 05.2015

Intern

Western Herald Newspaper
09.2014 - 12.2014

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism

Western Michigan University

Associate of Arts - Communications

Southwestern Michigan College

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