Kalena O'Connell
Portland
Summary
Ambitious student journalist and editor studying Communication and Writing at the University of Portland. Experience overseeing newsroom operations, coaching reporters and excelling in a fast-paced environment with emphasis on quality work. Published contributor to Hawaii Business Magazine with background in news, feature reporting and content creation. Seeking opportunity to leverage editorial leadership and dynamic storytelling skills in a professional newsroom.
Overview
1
1
year of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
News and Managing Editor
The Beacon
01.2026 - Current
- Oversee news coverage relevant to campus by pitching, assigning, editing and publishing stories.
- Ensure fair, accurate and inclusive reporting within the news section.
- Manage reporter beats and maintain all-staff story budget, which tracks assignment progress.
Team Captain
Pilots Dance Team
08.2025 - Current
- Serve as second-in-command to the coach. Choreograph and teach routines, call sidelines on game days, lead team communication, and model professionalism for younger teammates.
Living Section Editor
The Beacon
08.2025 - 12.2025
- Pitched lifestyle and campus focused story ideas. Assigned and edited first draft articles. Published 5-6 articles per month
- Mentored reporters through interview and writing process through regular communication.
- Monitored content for accuracy and promptly published corrections and clarifications as needed while managing a fast-paced, deadline-driven workflow.
Editorial Intern
Hawaii Business Magazine
06.2025 - 08.2025
- Reported and produced editorial content by pitching story ideas, researching topics, interviewing sources, organizing transcripts and crafting clear, compelling business writing.
- Published in September 2025 and December 2025 print magazines.
Community Engagement Intern
DTL Hawaii
05.2025 - 08.2025
- Independently authored short story collection using creative writing, while also designing visual content for social media platforms and the Actions of Aloha app.
News Reporter
The Beacon
08.2024 - 05.2025
- Pitched story ideas, communicated with administration and student sources, collaborated with photographer, conducted interviews with compelling questions, organized content, participated in bi-weekly staff meetings, write and submit 1-2 articles a week.
- Requires critical thinking, creativity, effective in-person and online communication, reliability, collaboration, and successful time management
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
University of Portland
Portland, Oregon, OR05-2027
High School Diploma -
Mid-Pacific
Honolulu, HI05-2023
Skills
- Newswriting
- Content editing
- Interviewing
- Storytelling
- Opinion writing
- Managing reporters
- AP Style
- Digital publishing
- Leadership
Certification
College Media Association Feb 2025
- Attended the annual CMA Pro Con: Spring National College Media Convention in New York City
- Tuned into lectures, panel discussions and keynote presentations covering student media and the Journalism field.
Writing Workshops, University of Portland August 2024 – May 2025
- Participate in writing challenges, review peer work, read and discuss professional non-fiction and fiction literature
- Write non-fiction and fiction stories for peer and mentor review and revision.
Timeline
News and Managing Editor
The Beacon
01.2026 - Current
Team Captain
Pilots Dance Team
08.2025 - Current
Living Section Editor
The Beacon
08.2025 - 12.2025
Editorial Intern
Hawaii Business Magazine
06.2025 - 08.2025
Community Engagement Intern
DTL Hawaii
05.2025 - 08.2025
News Reporter
The Beacon
08.2024 - 05.2025
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
University of Portland
High School Diploma -
Mid-Pacific