Summary
Award-winning journalist/author/novelist and educator with extensive institutional and freelance experience in creating non-fiction, fiction and multi-media content.
Twelve years teaching at the university-level, both graduate and undergraduate students.
Subject matter expertise: war and conflict, international relations, world and military affairs, oceans and the marine environment and emergency medicine.
Technical capabilities: video shooting and editing and DSLR photography (terrestrial and underwater.)
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Author
Harper Collins Publishers
Remote
06.2008 - Current
- Author of three non-fiction books and one novel for Harper Collins Publishers
- Critical acclaim for all three non-fiction works on war and conflict.
- Debut novel, The Ocean Above Me longlisted for The Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize
Associate Professor of Practice
University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
09.2012 - 06.2022
- Director of Masters Program (two years)
- Taught both graduate and undergraduate students
- Courses included: Backpack Journalism, International News and Video News Production.
- Created special campus-wide seminar courses:
- Killing Stories: A Search for Truth in the Narratives of War
- You Intoxicate Me: Use, Misuse and Dependence on Psychoactive Substances.
Nieman Fellow
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
09.2009 - 06.2010
- Named by the Nieman Foundation as one of 24 international, accomplished, mid-career journalists given the opportunity to study in residence at Harvard University for one academic year
Foreign Correspondent
Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone (Yahoo! News)
Global
07.2005 - 07.2008
- Hired by Yahoo News as its first journalist
- Created and executed multi-media journalism project to cover every active war zone in the world in one year.
- Recipient of more than a dozen national and international awards, including The Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism
Foreign Correspondent
NBC News
Afghanistan And Iraq
09.2001 - 01.2005
- Freelance foreign correspondent for network, cable and Internet coverage of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
- Nominated for a national Emmy Award for solo coverage of the war in Iraq.
Foreign Correspondent
CNN (Cable News Network)
Colombia And Iraq
09.2002 - 09.2003
- Staff foreign correspondent, primarily covering conflict zones:
- U.S.-led war in Iraq
- Drug war in Colombia
Journalism Lecturer
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
09.1999 - 09.2001
- Named Distinguished Lecturer by California Faculty Association for 2000-2001 academic year
- Engineered CPTV's transition to digital video
- CPTV swept California Intercollegiate Press Association in 2001 competition, taking 12 of 15 awards
Television News Field Producer
NBC News
Washington, DC
04.1996 - 05.1999
- Network News producer for NBC's Nightly News with Tom Brokaw in Washington Bureau
- Recipient of Edward R. Murrow Award for contributions to coverage of the War in Kosovo
- Nominated for national Emmy Award for story on land mines
Television News Field Producer
ABC News
Washington, DC
09.1993 - 03.1996
- Network News producer for ABC's Washington Bureau.
- Assigned to This Week with David Brinkley and World News Weekend
Television News Field Producer
KTLA Morning News
Los Angeles, CA
06.1991 - 09.1993
- Full-time field/segment producer and (vacation) line producer for #1 rated morning news show
- Local Emmy Award for contributions to best Los Angeles Morning News Program
Television News Show Producer
Financial News Network
03.1990 - 06.1991
- Producer and creator of FNN's early morning show, Business A.M.
Television News Writer/Segment Producer
Financial News Network (FNN)
Los Angeles, CA
03.1990 - 06.1991
- Wrote and produced news headlines and special segments for FNN's top-rated program Marketwrap
Television News Reporter
WCJB TV20 News
Gainesville, FL
03.1989 - 12.1989
- On-Air general assignment and health reporter for ABC affiliate in North Central Florida.
Special Events Producer
PUBLICOM
Los Angeles, CA
01.1984 - 01.1989
- Founder of special events consulting firm specializing in political and non-profit communications services
- Clients included: Gary Hart Presidential Campaign 1984-1988, Hands Across America 1986, Farm Aid 1985
Education
Master of Science Journalism -
01.1989
Bachelor of Arts Communication -
01.1984
Skills
- Article Writing
- Research Writing
- Copywriting
- Fiction Writing
- Literary Analysis
- Research and Interviews
- Fact-checking
- Content Creation
- Story Development
- Editing and review
- Video Creation and Editing
- Media Production
- Content Curation
- Social Media Promotion
- Marketing Communications
- Promotional marketing and advertising
Certification
- PADI Scuba Divemaster - Kralendijk, Bonaire, Netherland Antilles – Current #254975
- PADI Specialties: Nitrox, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Boat Diver, Night Diver, Underwater Criminal Investigator
- Scuba Educator Specialty: Recreational Standard Diving Dress (hard hat)
- Former EMT Basic/UCLA Pre-Hospital Care Program-Los Angeles, CA #E002806
- Former Red Cross First Aid/CPR AED Instructor – Santa Monica, CA
- Former Red Cross Water Safety Instructor – Santa Monica, CA
Speaking Engagements
- U.S. State Department, Manilla, Philippines (Journalist Safety Series)
- U.S. State Department, Sophia, Bulgaria (Backpack Journalism Series)
- U.S. State Department, Beijing, Guangzhou, China (Speaker Series)
- Foreign Correspondent's Club (Hong Kong)
- Frontline Club (London)
- Harvard University- The Kennedy School
- California Institute of Technology
- Columbia University - School of Journalism
- International Institute for Strategic Studies - Shangri La Dialogue
- Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism
- Unites States Military Academy (West Point)
- University of California, Berkley - Graduate School of Journalism
Awards
- Columbia University - Dart Fellow, Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma 2012
- Harvard University - Nieman Journalism Fellow Class of 2010
- Manchester College - Innovator of the Year 2008
- Northwestern University - Inductee Medill Hall of Achievement 2008
- National Press Club - Best Online Journalism Site 2006-07
- National Headliner Awards - Best Independent Online Journalism 2006-07
- The Webby Awards - Best News/Documentary 2006-07
- Forbes Magazine’s - Forbes Magazine Top 25 of the Web 2007
- Time Magazine - Time Magazine’s Top Websites of 2006-07
- InterAction - Excellence in International Reporting 2007
- Daniel Pearl Award - For Courage and Integrity in Reporting-2006
- Payne Ethics Award - Mosque Shooting Coverage-2005
- Wired Magazine - RAVE Award, Best Blog 2004
- Distinguished Lecturer - California Faculty Association/Cal Poly-2001
- Edward R. Murrow Award - Contributions to NBC/Kosovo War 1999
Publications
- The Ocean Above Me (Harper-July 2023)
- Swimming with Warlords (Harper Perennial-October 2014)
- The Things They Cannot Say (Harper Perennial-January 2013)
- In the Hot Zone (Harper Perennial-October 2007)
- Contributor - Vice Magazine
- Contributor - Men’s Health
- Contributor - Salon
- Contributor - Aeon
- Contributor - Parade Magazine
- Contributor - Wired Magazine
- Contributor - Popular Science Magazine
- Contributor - BlackBook Magazine
- Contributor - CNN.Com, MSNBC.Com
- Contributor - New Times (San Luis Obispo, CA)
- Contributor - The Architecture of Fear (Princeton Press)
Hobbies and Interests
- Diving and the Underwater World
- Marine Ecology and Conservation
- Emergency Medicine
- PTSD/Moral Injury Research
Volunteer Experience
- Project Laut – Hawkbill turtle conservation and coral restoration intern. Nusa Penida, Indonesia
- Action Kivu, Board Member - Supports women and children in D.R. Congo
- CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Santa Monica, CA
- Meals on Wheels (kitchen worker) Waldport, OR
Timeline
Associate Professor of Practice - University of Hong Kong
09.2012 - 06.2022
Nieman Fellow - Harvard University
09.2009 - 06.2010
Author - Harper Collins Publishers
06.2008 - Current
Foreign Correspondent - Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone (Yahoo! News)
07.2005 - 07.2008
Foreign Correspondent - CNN (Cable News Network)
09.2002 - 09.2003
Foreign Correspondent - NBC News
09.2001 - 01.2005
Journalism Lecturer - California Polytechnic State University
09.1999 - 09.2001
Television News Field Producer - NBC News
04.1996 - 05.1999
Television News Field Producer - ABC News
09.1993 - 03.1996
Television News Field Producer - KTLA Morning News
06.1991 - 09.1993
Television News Show Producer - Financial News Network
03.1990 - 06.1991
Television News Writer/Segment Producer - Financial News Network (FNN)
03.1990 - 06.1991
Television News Reporter - WCJB TV20 News
03.1989 - 12.1989
Special Events Producer - PUBLICOM
01.1984 - 01.1989
Northwestern University - Master of Science Journalism,
American University - Bachelor of Arts Communication,