Objective : To write and produce arts and cultural stories for public radio, web or print.
Qualifications :
- Experience producing and hosting talk programs for radio and television.
- Great story sense and understanding of placement.
- Strong writing and voicing skills.
- Skilled in digital audio editing.
- Great research skills.
Broadcasting Work Experience:
University of Minnesota
School of Journalism and Mass Communications _________May 2008 - Present
Office of Cowles Professor of Journalism, Diversity and Equality Catherine R. Squires
Research Assistant – Gordon Parks High School public radio pilot project
Researched and helped to design a pilot project that would introduce at-risk high school students to public radio storytelling. Researched methods and best practices for training them to report and produce basic stories. The dual objectives of introducing them to the option of journalism and to the craft of public radio storytelling. We wanted to motivate them to follow through on these at the University of Minnesota .
KFAI Fresh Air radio _______________________January 2008 – April 2008
reporter and producer – news department
Pitched, reported and produced feature stories. Wrote, voiced and edited these stories for air. Improved the skills gained at National Public Radio’s Intern Edition. Recruited a photographer to add photos to the stories’ web content.
- One story told of an ordinary man who tried to save a life from a blaze after the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed.
- Became skilled in digital audio editing with Pro Tools.
National Public Radio__________________September 2007 – December 2007
Intern - Tell Me More program
Researched potential story topics and vetted story ideas. Pitched stories, pre-interviewed guests and ran scripts. Booked guests and studio time. Co-wrote segment scripts. Co-wrote both basic and longer feature website summaries for stories and performance chats. One of them was showcased in the premiere of NPR’s new music website. Edited several conversations for air.
- Brought conversations from pitch, through pre-interview, booking and script writing to studio including one about filmmaker Charles Burnett.
- Reported a story about African-American Republicans for a one-hour radio show, Intern Edition.
- It earned bold praise from high-level NPR personalities.
- Photographed homeless veterans for a brief first-person story serial about Veterans’ Day.
KFAI Fresh Air radio ___________________________June 2001 – June 2007
Creator, producer, host – On Topic
Created a one-hour conversation program for television and radio titled On Topic. Wrote scripts, booked guests, produced, hosted and publicized the show. Created it to explore interests in current arts and cultural topics. Wanted to learn by talking with lay and credentialed experts.
Print Work Experience:
INSIGHT NEWS ______________________________________ MAY 2007
- Wrote analysis about the status of African-American film.Also wrote criticism of a speech by anti-racist scholar and activist Tim Wise.
THE MINNEAPOLIS OBSERVER _________________________OCTOBER 2005
- Wrote about how families can be assertive and proactive when planning for emergencies, especially on a national scale.
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR _______________________APRIL 2001
- Wrote cultural commentary, “Defining Myself Outside the Box”. At editorial editor’s request, focused it to address the 2000 U.S. Census. Professor Marie Howland, of the University of Maryland – College Park , selected the column for her “Diversity in the City” course. The byline bears writer’s former name, William Hickstein. It was legally changed to Will Wright in March 2002.
- It earned strong and powerful written responses.
Journalism Software: ENPS, ProTools, Audacity, Dalet, Dreamweaver MX.
Office Software: Microsoft Office Suite: Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
Education:
University of Minnesota - Anticipated Graduation: Dec 2009---------------- Minneapolis , Minnesota
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies --------------------------------------------------------CUM GPA 2.56
-------------------------minor in journalism---------------------------------------------------------- MAJOR GPA 3.49
