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Widely experienced and nationally award-winning journalist; video
photography; skilled in a wide array of publishing software; proven
to execute complex assignments with energy and determination.
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Current Position:
A.M. Best news, Oldwick, N.J. 2009-present
• Reporting on federal regulation of the insurance industry as the
Washington Bureau Manager for the century-old financial information company;
• Writing news stories for BestWire, for a daily online news roundup, for
comprehensive weekly newsletter BestWeek and monthly magazine Best's
Review and contributing video segments to BestDay.
Newspaper Work:
The Hartford Courant , Hartford, Conn. 2002 – 2009
Circulation: 170,000/242,000
• Focused on prominent lawmakers as the Courant’s Washington Bureau
Chief — the paper’s key political reporter; brought new technologies to the
position, including the establishment of a popular political blog, complete with
original photos and video;
• Previously covered the defense industry and military, including
coordinating a project to report alongside the Marines in Fallujah, featuring a
Web hub to host regular reports, a blog, photos and audio from Iraq; also
reported exclusive stories on problematic equipment.
Yakima Herald-Republic , Yakima, Wash. 1999 – 2002
Circulation: 40,000/41,000
• Conducted a deep investigation into forest-fire deaths that resulted in
permanent changes to U.S. Forest Service firefighting practices;
• Cultivated wide-ranging sources in a crime-plagued region as the police
and courts reporter.
Peninsula Daily News , Port Angeles, Wash. 1998 – 1999
Circulation: 17,000/18,000
• Competed day-to-day with national media as a general-assignment
reporter covering a culturally sensitive tribal whale hunt and also a beloved
pediatrician’s baby-murder case.
Columbian , Vancouver, Wash. 1997 – 1998
Circulation: 55,000/57,000
• Responded to breaking news as a general-assignment reporter;
• Coordinated a special weekly neighborhoods section as the Neighbors
reporter.
Additional:
• Writes freelance political news and analysis;
• Has published in the major Tribune Co. papers and Seattle Times;
• Led the 50-person staff of Western Washington University's The Western
Front as Editor in Chief;
• Designed special sections at The Leader in Port Townsend, Wash.;
• Designed various organization newsletters
Other Communications Work:
Delivers video news reports at BestDay, a daily online news show
Started politics blog On Background at www.courant.com/background, which
routinely broke news on significant Washington stories
Appeared on C-SPAN, New England Cable News, CPTV, WNPR and other
analysis shows
Reported stories for Connecticut Magazine and Hartford Magazine
Researched and wrote entries on prominent Capitol Hill staff members and
committees for the reference book Almanac of the Unelected
Wrote and designed for Klipsun Magazine at Western Washington University
Awards & Honors:
George Polk Award for Regional Reporting – 2001
SPJ’s Sigma Delta Chi Award for Feature Writing – 2001
Investigative Reporters and Editors Award – first place, 2001
Clarion Award, investigative series – 2002
Michael Kelly Award finalist – 2007
Livingston Award finalist – 2007 and 2001
New England AP News Executives Assoc., enterprise – first place, 2007
C.B. Blethen Award, investigative reporting – first place, 2002
C.B. Blethen Award, enterprise reporting – first place, 2002
Ted Natt First Amendment Award – 2002
SPJ Connecticut, in-depth series – first place, 2007
SPJ Pacific Northwest, criminal justice reporting – first place, 2001
SPJ Pacific Northwest, investigative reporting – first place, 2001
SPJ Pacific Northwest, comprehensive coverage – first place, 1999
Education:
Western Washington University, Bellingham, Wash.
Bachelor of Arts, journalism major, history emphasis
(outstanding journalism department graduate, 1997)
Certification:
Centurion Risk Assessment Services Ltd.
Hostile Environments and First Aid course
The Bigger Picture:
Member, National Press Club
Member, Military Reporters & Editors
taught college workshops in image-editing and pagination software
[Download a copy of Jesse's resume in Word.]
