Ed Howell Communications

 

Objective

 

My goal is to offer a wide range of experience as a reporter and photographer, giving accuracy, depth, fairness and color to a story while being a productive team member.

 

Demonstrated Strengths

 

· Interviews, researches and writes multiple stories on quick deadline.

· Consistently fair and accurate, winning respect of sources from different sides.

· Skillfully edits mistakes with AP Stylebook, clarifying gray areas.

· Looks for new, overlooked details.

· Provides a solid work ethic.

· Works well with team, listens and likes mentoring younger reporters.

· Writes balanced, literate editorials.

· Known as a self-starter who looks for stories if no story is obvious.

· Looks to solve problems.

· Shown skills with layout of pages and Web sites.

· Skillful with stories and features on complex and sensitive subjects such as politics, government, religion, entertainment, history and business, education, health, etc.

· Actively pushes to learn and utilize new technologies: Cell texting,  Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc.

· Can skillfully shoot hard news and feature photos with digital camera.

· Handles customer contacts and answers inquiries.

· Works with Microsoft Publisher and Word, older version of Quark.

· Handles community features equally as well as hard news.

 

Professional Experience

 

April 2009 to present:  News Director, “The People’s Viewpoint,” WXIX-AM, Jasper, Alabama.

 

Starting April 20, 2009, began position at WIXI, 1360 AM, as news director of a two-hour afternoon news talk show called “The People’s Voice,” writing and reading newscasts, conducting interviews and passing along breaking developments over the wire, as well as interacting with hosts. Covered and taped events in town. Filled in as co-host when necessary. Planning Web site for the show. (Officially hired through by Charles Bishop of Bishop Multi-Media Advertising Co. for airtime he purchased, but in close cooperation with station.)

 

February 2009 to April 2009: Reporter and Host, WJLX-AM, Jasper, Alabama.

 

Hosted and booked a live afternoon news hour (for no pay) called “Talk of the Town,” writing and reading 15-minute newscast, conducting interviews and passing along breaking developments over the wire. Covered and taped news events. Was successful in getting station to have a live Internet stream and to archive shows for a week. Was able to break many stories ahead of other media outlets and provided the only sound bites of many local government meetings.

 

2008 to present:  Ed Howell Communications, Jasper, Alabama.

 

I started my own company to perform freelance writing, photography, public relations and related work. From October to December in 2008, performed publicity and administrative work to assist the newly-created Walker County Political Accountability Coalition, a registered political action committee which opposed electronic bingo in Walker County (which I covered earlier for the Eagle) and endorsed a slate of candidates. Created newspaper ads, wrote press releases and shot ad photos. Developed five-minute televised commercial speech and a Web site, www.walkeraccountability.org. Consulted with coalition leaders about strategy and background on issue. Three out of five coalition candidates in general election elected, with two in competitive races. Work continued after election to include administrative work and public relations work, including plans for developing ads, fundraising efforts and a broader agenda. Heavily involved in selecting and hiring an attorney to direct legal representation on the issue.

 

From January to March 2009, I offered political consultant services for Alabama State Sen. Charles Bishop, R-Arley. I also wrote a blog linked to my Web site and wrote a shared-byline story for the Alabama Baptist. I have created a Web site for the Walker County Republican Party, www.mywalkergop.com, and I am about to start one for the radio show, “The People’s Viewpoint.”

 

2003-2008:  Senior Staff Writer, Daily Mountain Eagle, Jasper, Alabama.

 

Formal beats included the Walker County Commission, Carbon Hill and Sumiton city councils, plus occasional coverage of other local governments. In addition, wrote for business and church pages. Work also included covering unofficial beats involving local legislators, elections, unemployment, Bevill State Community College, future Interstate 22 and Walker County electronic bingo issues.

 

Looked for and advocated ways to use new technology, ranging from company e-mail to digital recorders. Personally developed an electronic filing system for my own stories and photos often utilized by news staff. Proved the value for acquiring high resolution digital cameras and purchased personal Nikon D70 camera when office was short of equipment.

 

Developed a weekly column focused on local news with colorful commentary that generated public interest and influenced local issues.

 

Highlights of Coverage: 

Commission beat yielded stories detailing county debt that state auditors took displeasure with, leading commission to curtail spending and institute cuts.

 In-depth stories on attempts to introduce electronic bingo uncovered forged charity applications leading to an investigation. Reports on lax regulation and enforcement led to groundswell of debate that became a centerpiece in 2008 elections

Provided in-depth coverage of two-year college scandal relating to state Rep. Ken Guin’s contracts with colleges and state Sen. Charles Bishop’s assault of Sen. Lowell Barron in the Alabama Senate.

 

1999-2003:  Senior Staff Writer, The Clanton Advertiser, Clanton, Alabama.

 

Worked beats at this five-day-a-week newspaper that included Chilton County Commission and Thorsby City Council.   Also worked unofficial beats involving local politics, sports and churches. In addition, developed a tabloid for Chilton Crusade for Jesus and newcomer’s guide tabloid.  Wrote a weekly column which looked closer at county events, including issues such as the controversial seven-man vote system used for commission elections and the commission’s lack of funds to pave hundreds of miles of dirt roads.

 

1988-1999:  News Editor, Journal Record, Hamilton, Alabama.

 

Managed news gathering based in Hamilton, working with reporter in home office and reporter in Winfield office. Worked on number of beats, including Hamilton, Hackleburg, Weston and Guin city councils, Marion County Board of Education and Marion County Commission. Informal beats included Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton Kiwanis Club, unemployment, churches, congressmen, Corridor X highway, legislators and politics in general.

 

Worked to provide smooth transition from a weekly to a twice-a-week newspaper. Helped organize the Journal Record’s newspaper advisory board, which influenced some layout and content decisions. Advisory board meetings were covered in the paper to give more accountability.

 

Highlights of Accomplishments: 

Provided in-depth coverage leading to creation of Marion County E-911 and Weldy Home for Children. In-depth coverage of Corridor X (later Future Interstate 22) helped lead to regional movement to speed up completion of highway. 

In an effort to promote county unity, worked successfully to eliminate different front pages for north and south ends of Marion County.

Designed and wrote 24-page color booklet for industrial recruitment and newcomers, for use by city of Hamilton, through the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Also worked at times in advertising and circulation when needed. Helped lay out pages for a short time using QuarkXPress 2.0 and in pasting up pages.

Wrote a weekly column and editorials.

 

1986-1988:  News Editor, Sumter County Record, Livingston, Alabama.

 

Served as news editor/reporter covering all news stories in Sumter County—politics to sports—and worked in most areas of the weekly newspaper such as advertising, circulation, photography, darkroom work, bookkeeping, and pasting up pages.

 

1985:  Reporter, The Daily Home, Talladega, Alabama.

 

Served as reporter covering the city of Talladega (and its police reports), the Talladega Kiwanis Club, the Talladega City Board of Education, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

1981-1984:  Reporter and Office Manager, The Times-Record, Winfield, Alabama.

 

While attending community college, served as part-time street circulation manager and part-time reporter for the weekly Fayette newspaper.  Served as full-time office manager and reporter in summers of 1982-84. Strengthened the publication with more serious coverage than the competition was offering. Experience included newspaper distribution, selling subscriptions and ads.

 

Education

 

1985 Bachelor of Arts in communication, cum laude, The University of Alabama. Journalism major, political science minor.

Marion County Leadership Program graduate, 1995-96.

 

Awards and recognition

 

· Better Newspaper Contest, Alabama Press Association: Best Business Coverage and Best Editorial Coverage and Best Public Service, second place, 1989; Best Spot News Coverage, second place, 1996; Best Editorial, third place, 1997.

· Alabama Associated Press Managing Editors Competition: second place News Non-Deadline Reporting, Class 3, second place, 2003.

· American Cancer Society, Best Feature Story, Weekly Newspaper Division, first place, 1987-88.

· Hamilton Kiwanis Club: Kiwanian of the Year, 1995-96; secretary-treasurer, 1994-97.

· Plaque of appreciation, Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce.

· Plaque of appreciation, Chilton Crusade for Jesus ’99, 1999.

· Plaque of appreciation, Journal Record, for 11 years of service.

· Key to city of Talladega, from mayor, 1985.

· Key to city of Hamilton, from mayor, 1999.

· Inaugural board director for Winfield City High School Alumni Association, 1994-99.

· Outstanding Young Men of America, 1986.

 Resume

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