Hi, I’m
Kyle Ocker
Centerville,USA
Summary
Multimedia Journalist & Editor with 13+ years of experience, adept at leading newsroom operations and fostering journalistic excellence across multiple platforms. Proven track record in managing budgets of up to $2.5M and leading teams to innovate in the production of compelling visual and text journalism. Committed to enhancing community engagement and elevating the quality of local news coverage through strategic leadership and a forward-thinking approach.
Overview
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Ottumwa Courier & Oskaloosa Herald
Editor & General Manager
11.2022 - Current
Job overview
- Managed daily operations of two newspapers, handling a $2.5M budget
- Led a team of 20, fostering a collaborative work environment
- Oversaw design and production of each edition
- Coached reporters, improving content quality and depth
- Produced visual and text journalism regarding local government, crime, courts, sports and community events.
Ottumwa Courier & Oskaloosa Herald
Group Editor
06.2020 - 11.2022
Job overview
- Assisted with the merger of five newspapers into two, bolstering regional stability during the COVID-19 crisis
- Implemented innovative strategies for resource allocation across newsrooms
- Coached and edited reporters, improving content quality and depth
- Oversaw the design and production of each edition
- Produced visual and text journalism regarding local government, crime, courts, sports and community events.
CNHI
Regional Editor
02.2019 - 06.2020
Job overview
- Led operations for 4 papers, enhancing journalist collaboration and boosting community event coverage
- Fostered a collaborating network of 8 journalists across all four papers
- Produced visual and text journalism regarding local government, crime, courts, sports and community events.
Centerville Daily Iowegian
Editor
04.2017 - 02.2019
Job overview
- Managed newsroom operations for a five-day newspaper, including oversight of two journalists
- Contributed text and visual content on local news
- Led an investigative reporting effort on the Indian Hills Community College baseball program, finding multiple abuses by coaches who had been abruptly dismissed without explanation including requiring players to use aliases to work security jobs as a fundraiser for the program to skirt U.S
- Immigration law.
Knoxville Journal-Express
Managing Editor
11.2016 - 05.2017
Job overview
- Managed newsroom operations for weekly newspaper, including oversight of two journalists
- Collaborated with a regional sister newspaper, bringing forward an ambitious reporting effort on a lack of local mental health resources.
Centerville Daily Iowegian
Associate Editor
07.2016 - 11.2016
Job overview
- Assisted managing editor in providing comprehensive news coverage, while spearheading the newspaper's sports coverage and online presentation.
Centerville Daily Iowegian
Sports/Online Editor
03.2011 - 07.2016
Job overview
- Provided exclusive coverage of sporting events for five area high schools, including photography and in-depth reporting
- Contributed to general news assignments, such as breaking news reports and spot news photography
- Managed the newspaper's online and social media presence.
Education
Centerville High SchoolCenterville, IA
High School Diploma
05.2011
Skills
Editing and proofreading
Content Planning
Visual storytelling
Fact-checking
Headline writing
HTML and CSS Basics
Adobe Systems
Deadline Management
Investigative reporting
News Reporting
Photography
Media Law Understanding
Notable Career Honors
- Best of CNHI | Various awards
- Editorial Writer of the Year (2024); Photographer of the Year (2019, 2020, 2022); Reporter of the Year (2020); Public Service Award (2018, 2019); and managed the newsroom of the Knoxville Journal-Express when it won Newspaper of the Year (2018)
- Iowa Associated Press Media Editors | Investigative Reporting Award (2019)
- Inland Press Association | Explanatory Reporting (2017)
- Investigative Reporters and Editors | IRE Award for Sports Investigations (Finalist, 2019)
Professional Volunteering
- Iowa Freedom of Information Council, Trustee, Served as a trustee, including stints as Vice President and President, for the council which advocates for open government and First Amendment issues in the state of Iowa.
- Iowa Print Sports Writers Association, Vice President/Founding member, Helped form an organization that assumed an 80-plus year legacy of newspapers selecting all-state sports teams in Iowa, following the Iowa Newspaper Association's decision to end their program in 2018.
- Iowa Newspaper Association, Various committees, From 2016-2018, I served on the INA's all-state committee.From 2023-present, I serve on the INA's government relations committee.Planning to serve on a new INA Technology committee being formed.
- Iowa Judicial Branch, Region 12 Media Coordinator, Help facilitate media access to court proceedings, including collaborating with media partners, judges and other court officials.Develop media pooling and logistical plans.
References
- Randy Evans, Iowa Freedom of Information Council, iowafoicouncil@gmail.com, 5157450041
- Rebecca Maxwell, Albia Newspapers, becky@albianews.com, 6418950768
- Rob Matherly, Smith Fertilizer and Grain, jimrob@gmail.com, 6418567172
- Emily Hawk, Cedar Rapids Gazette, em.hawk2012@gmail.com, 6418955302
Timeline
Editor & General Manager
Ottumwa Courier & Oskaloosa Herald
11.2022 - Current
Group Editor
Ottumwa Courier & Oskaloosa Herald
06.2020 - 11.2022
Regional Editor
CNHI
02.2019 - 06.2020
Editor
Centerville Daily Iowegian
04.2017 - 02.2019
Managing Editor
Knoxville Journal-Express
11.2016 - 05.2017
Associate Editor
Centerville Daily Iowegian
07.2016 - 11.2016
Sports/Online Editor
Centerville Daily Iowegian
03.2011 - 07.2016
Centerville High School
High School Diploma