Joel Burgess
Asheville,N.C.
Summary
Award-winning reporter with experience covering government, politics, health, police, social justice and more. Investigative work has drawn national attention to issues such as policing and racial disparities.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Investigative Reporter
Asheville Citizen Times
10.2014 - Current
- Effective reporting and storytelling has helped drive policy changes on policing, political districts and protests.
- Obtained police body camera videos by petitioning Superior Court without aid of an attorney, arguing a compelling public interest for their release.
- Most recent North Carolina Press Association Awards: a data-intensive investigation showing schools were failing to report crimes and analysis that revealed how multi-million dollar mansions were drastically under-taxed.
- Investigation showed that while government resources were going to combat downtown crime, the most dangerous places in the city were actually poor, isolated and racially segregated neighborhoods with high populations of children.
- Obtained leaked police body camera footage of officer beating Black pedestrian in a jaywalking stop. Reporting that followed brought national attention to law enforcement brutality and racial disparity in policing.
- Wrote, edited and produced stories for multiple platforms, including a video series on reparations and live on-scene hurricane coverage.
Marketing Coordinator
Cane Creek Cycling Components
01.2014 - 09.2014
- Helped manage marketing initiatives through company website, social media and other platforms.
- Helped organize launch of new suspension product.
Lead Reporter
Black Mountain News
07.2012 - 12.2013
- Wrote for all sections, producing stories on government, sports and lifestyles. Won two first-place N.C. Press Association awards.
- Managed website and introduced use of Twitter. Reinvigorated paper's Facebook page with visits reaching highest levels.
Government Reporter
Asheville Citizen Times
03.2006 - 07.2013
- Hired as education reporter. Promoted within year to cover City Hall. Expanded beat to state and federal issues.
- Recognized by Gannett for work revealing how a city festival hurt businesses and a team series on deadly results of construction in landslide zones.
Political Reporter
Times-News
04.1999 - 02.2006
- Covered federal, state and local government for New York Times Regional Newspaper Group publication.
- Won awards for investigation of county-owned hospital's financial decline and series on yawning gaps in state mental health system.
Education
Guilford College
Greensboro, N.C.Skills
- Experienced reporter who can quickly identify stories and find new angles
- Able to sort through complex situations, analyze them and explain the news in compelling ways
- Can expertly handle breaking news, longer-term trends and in-depth investigations
- Has worked across broad range of platforms: written word, radio and video
Timeline
Investigative Reporter
Asheville Citizen Times
10.2014 - Current
Marketing Coordinator
Cane Creek Cycling Components
01.2014 - 09.2014
Lead Reporter
Black Mountain News
07.2012 - 12.2013
Government Reporter
Asheville Citizen Times
03.2006 - 07.2013
Political Reporter
Times-News
04.1999 - 02.2006
Guilford College
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