Resume
NICHOLAS JACKSON
1257 W. Lunt Avenue, Apt. 118, Chicago, IL 60626
Cell: 815.341.8122; E-mail: nicholas.b.jackson@gmail.com
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EXPERIENCE
THE WASHINGTON POST COMPANY, Washington, D.C.
Media Aggregator, Slate Magazine, January 2010 — Present
- Reviewed, daily, all major national and international newspapers as well as hundreds of magazines, blogs and other Web sites to predict what news would dominate the next 24-hour cycle; Wrote summaries for hundreds of news stories for The Slatest, Slate’s news aggregation feature, which is read by millions. Updated Slate and Slatest site daily using Gutenberg, Slate’s content management system, and sent out daily e-newsletters to subscribers.
SELF-EMPLOYED FREELANCER / CONTRACT WORK, Chicago, IL
Writer / Editor / Web Producer / Digital & Social Media Consultant, January 2005 — Present
Edelman: Community Manager, Edelman Digital, November 2009 — December 2009; ThinkGlink: Social Media Intern, November 2009; The Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy: Marketing & Communications Strategist, June 2008 — August 2008; MyFootpath: Web Content Writer / Social Media Consultant, October 2009 — January 2010; Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid / World Sport Chicago: Web Content Writer, June 2008 — August 2008; ABC National News: Contributor / Runner, November 2008; Other Companies / Publications: Filter Magazine, Venus Zine, Monsters & Critics, Sound The Sirens.
CHICAGO UNZIPPED, Evanston, IL
Head of Recruitment, Editor Emeritus, Fourth Edition, June 2008 — June 2009
- Hired and interviewed staff members; recommended individuals to the Editor-in-Chief; Used social networking and personal connections to seek out qualified candidates; Chose and advised new editorial staff.
Editor-in-Chief, Edition Three, June 2007 — June 2008
- Was responsible for all editorial content, including features, reviews, photographs, maps and more; Assembled and managed staff of 150 editors, writers, photographers and designers from nine different universities; Hired and interviewed staff members; Handled paychecks and expense reports; Coached business team and helped to pre-sell books and advertising; Oversaw the production of the book, acting as a liaison between publishers and printer. 15,000 copies in print.
Editor-in-Chief, Edition Two, May 2006 — June 2007
Writer, Edition Two, December 2005 — May 2006
STUDENTS PUBLISHING COMPANY, Evanston, IL
Staff Writer, Freshman Survival Guide, June 2009
Editor-in-Chief, The Weekly, January 2009 — March 2009
- Was responsible for all editorial content in and staff members working on The Weekly, a magazine-style, weekly insert to The Daily Northwestern focused on campus news and arts and culture; Served on editorial board, which planned the newspaper’s direction and editorial focus.
Managing Editor, The Weekly, June 2008 — December 2008
Assistant Editor, The Weekly, March 2008 — June 2008
Editor-in-Chief, Freshman Survival Guide, September 2008
Editor-in-Chief, The Summer Northwestern, June 2008 — September 2008
- Was responsible for all editorial content in and staff members working on The Summer Northwestern, a weekly newspaper distributed on the Northwestern University campus and around the city of Evanston; Planned editorial vision in consultation with General Manager and Board members; Analyzed online traffic and worked to expand Web offerings and reach.
Staff Writer, Freshman Survival Guide, June 2007
Staff Writer / Music Critic, PLAY Magazine, September 2005 — June 2007
Assistant Online Editor, The Daily Northwestern, September 2005 — January 2006
DR. DAVID ABRAHAMSON, Evanston, IL
Research Assistant, September 2008 — June 2009
- Served as interim editor of IALJS.org, the Web site for The International Association for Literary Journalism Studies; Helped to organize the fourth annual IALJS Conference in Chicago; Administrative work: Photocopying, organizing, database management, etc.; Used LexisNexis to research and recommend articles and stories for the Literary Journalism course; Wrote introductions to be read for guest speakers and conference attendees; Edited and recommended changes to journal submissions from Ph.D. and Masters candidates.
TEXAS MONTHLY, Austin, TX
Editorial / New Media Intern / Blogger, January 2008 — November 2008
- Worked with online editor to establish new magazine-wide blog centered on national politics; Contributed to political blog and Texas sports blog; moderated all blog comments on Texas Monthly network; Moderated the online community forum; Coded and distributed “Recipe,” “Out & About” and “Letter From the Editor” e-newsletters for subscribers; Wrote, updated, fact-checked and published new media content; copy-edited all online material; Transcribed interviews and completed research for senior editors.
ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA, Chicago, IL
Editorial Intern / Blogger, June 2007 — May 2008
- Researched and updated population data in consultation with Geography editors; Converted, edited and expanded pop culture biographies for the core editorial department; Assisted with research and writing for large-scale timeline project; Worked on Web development and site optimization; Contributed columns on architecture to Britannica’s Webby Award-winning Blog of Experts.
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY RESIDENTIAL LIFE, Evanston, IL
Community Assistant, June 2006 — June 2007
- Was responsible for community development, administrative reporting/referral and program resolution; Developed and used knowledge of available programs, services and activities to assist students; Demonstrated behavior consistent with that expected of residents; Responded calmly, using common sense in emergencies and times of stress.
SCI-TECH HANDS-ON MUSEUM, Aurora, IL
Media & Marketing Intern, November 2003 — March 2004
- Wrote and published press releases in The Aurora Beacon and SCIENCE magazine; Sorted, organized and filed press materials about the museum; Assembled databases of key contributors and supporters; Participated in hands-on in-house learning programs in science and technology for elementary school students.
ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Chicago Main Newsstand: Service Desk Assistant; Northwestern University Library: Stacks Management Assistant III, Music Library Assistant III; Meijer Retail and Grocery Supercenter: Service Desk Assistant, Cashier, New Employee Training, Supervisor; Norris Center Bookstore, Barnes & Noble #668: Bestseller Management Training Program, Bookseller.
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EDUCATION
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, MEDILL SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, Evanston, IL
Bachelor of Science in Journalism (BSJ), Medill School of Journalism, September 2005 — June 2009
- Concentration: Magazine Print; Focus: Editing; Social Science Concentration: Psychology
- Louis M. Cohn Scholarship Recipient [2006-2009 Academic Years; $10,000/Year]; Dean’s List
- Relevant Coursework: Editing & Writing the News, Magazine Editing, Magazine Writing, Print Media Design, Literary Journalism, History and Issues of Journalism, Enterprise Reporting in Diverse Communities, Media Law & Ethics
THE ILLINOIS MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ACADEMY, Aurora, IL
High School Diploma, August 2002 — June 2005
- Longest serving contributor (three years, writer and editor) at The Acronym, a student-run newspaper.
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SKILLS
Adobe: InDesign CS2/CS3/CS4, Photoshop, InCopy; QuarkXPress; Microsoft: Excel (Pivot Tables, Macros), Powerpoint, Word, Access; LexisNexis; SPSS; WordPress; HTML; Java; Frontpage; Dreamweaver; BBEdit; CSS; mySQL; Typing: 91 wpm/95%; German (proficient); Spanish (beginner)
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Habitat for Humanity; Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge (South Carolina); Exodus World Service
STUDENT THEATRE: DESIGN, PUBLICITY, FUNDRAISING
Graphic Designer, The Curious Case of Caroline Crane (Vertigo Productions, 2007); Director of Publicity, The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek (Arts Alliance, 2007); Graphic Designer, How I Learned To Drive (Sit & Spin Productions, 2007); Director of Publicity and Fundraising/Graphic Designer, The Merry Wives of Windsor (Lovers and Madmen Theatre Troupe, 2007)
