Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences.
--Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath
Me, on writing:
Start with your audience and craft to their needs, utilizing words first, graphics second.
Keep it simple and get to the point. People are busy; respect their time.
Follow the basic rules of writing and style, until you need to break them.
When experts are available, leverage their knowledge and their words to the audience’s benefit.
Public affairs is not journalism; not all communication is advertising. Know your purpose.
Public Affairs Specialist
In this one-year temporary position at U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, I maintained the garrison’s website, including content for Digital Garrison mobile app, and developed written and graphic content for social media and the garrison newspaper. (Published articles are available at the DVIDS link. Some of the graphics and images associated with the stories are not my work). Highlighted examples:
Women in the military. This story was widely distributed across the Army and Department of Defense.
DODEA schools move online. This more complex story involved numerous interviews at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown in Germany.
General Schaertl visits the high school. This feel-good story was an alternative to a request for a more controversial topic. This story was also widely distributed across Army and Department of Defense channels.
Chris Curtis and PCS moves during COVID. The main photograph with this story has been widely used as a “stock” image across the Army.
Education
In a variety of roles, I have produced content for school websites, newsletters, magazines, etc. I also taught journalism to high school students and managed student work for publication.
Student profile for senior magazine.
Part of a double spread in the senior magazine.
Part of a double spread in the senior magazine.
Teacher profile in senior magazine.