Mark Smith
Albuquerque
Summary
Experienced award-winning investigative and creative sports writer with strong editing background and expertise in covering multiple sports at all levels and feature writing.
Devoted to promoting sports and increasing news audience engagement with proactive strategies.
Former television anchor/photographer/producer with strong visual reporting skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with flexible schedule and superior work ethic.
Overview
38
38
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Sports Editor/Beat Writer/Columnist
Albuquerque Journal
10.1993 - 01.2018
- Beat writer for New Mexico Lobo basketball for 15 years, dealing with controversial coaches like Dave Bliss, Fran Fraschilla and Steve Alford while maintaining the utmost professionalism.
- Investigated and broke numerous national sports/news stories, including the shooting death of Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy and the St. Pius Bucklegate scandal.
- Established strong relationships with local sports teams and organizations to facilitate better access to exclusive interviews and stories.
- Helped manage a team of reporters, fostering a collaborative environment that promoted high-quality journalism.
- Proofread, edited and evaluated final copy to verify content aligned with established guidelines.
- Wrote captions for selected graphics and helped write headlines for sports section.
- Collaborated with writers, designers and other editors to deliver content of highest quality.
- Worked on Journal editorial staff, researching and writing news editorials.
Freelance Reporter/Columnist
Albuquerque Journal
05.1987 - 10.1993
- Researched covered and wrote daily sports reports with an emphasis on high schools.
- Covered special events and breaking news with eye for detail and tenacious pursuit of important information.
- Developed and maintained network of contacts to facilitate story development.
- Participated in editorial meetings to discuss story ideas and content.
Assistant Sports Director/TV Sports Anchor
KOB-TV
03.1980 - 05.1987
- Shot, edited and reported on local and national sports stories and helped write and produce weekday sportscast.
- Anchored weekend sports, which included overseeing a staff of four and organizing, writing and producing all content of the sportscast.
- Developed strong relationships with parents and guardians, facilitating open communication channels to address any concerns or questions about the program.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism (Print And Broadcast)
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM05.1981
Skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Event coverage and reporting
- Investigative reporting
- Journalistic and creative writing
- Ethics and integrity
- Multimedia production
- Storytelling aptitude
- Creating page layouts
- Copy Editing and Proofreading
- Critical Thinking
- Relationship Building
Honors
Named New Mexico Sportscaster of the Year three times and New Mexico Sportswriter of the Year nine times from various organizations.
As of 2014, the only person in country named both National Sportswriter and Sportscaster Association's state broadcaster the year (1984) and state sportswriter of the year (2013, 2014) during a career.
Winner of more than 30 awards for sports writing and columns.
In 1995, was top individual in the Associated Press Managing Editors nation's best investigative journalist series for coverage of the St. Pius X High "Bucklegate" scandal. The series uncovered the father/dentist of one on the team's football players, who shaved helmet buckles into knife-like objects that sliced up rival Albuquerque Academy during the teams' game.
In 2003, I broke the story of Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy (a former Lobo), who was shot to death by a teammate. I did numerous national live interviews on the likes of the Today Show, CNN, ESPN, MSNBC and Fox and was included in the documentary "Disgrace," which detailed the fall of Baylor coach Dave Bliss and his attempted cover-up of the scandal. My reporting led to Bliss being banned from ever coaching in the NCAA again.
References:
Tim Coder
Retired Sports/.News Editor
Albuquerque Journal
505-681-4253
Dan Herrera
Retired Assistant Editor
Albuquerque Journal
505-897-8502
Donn Friedman
Web Editor
Albuquerque Journal
505-238-5478
Other references available upon request.
Timeline
Assistant Sports Editor/Beat Writer/Columnist
Albuquerque Journal
10.1993 - 01.2018
Freelance Reporter/Columnist
Albuquerque Journal
05.1987 - 10.1993
Assistant Sports Director/TV Sports Anchor
KOB-TV
03.1980 - 05.1987
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism (Print And Broadcast)
University of New Mexico
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