WORK SAMPLE

Life as a Journalist

For two years, I was a staff/beat writer at the Osceola News-Gazette, the only news entity covering Osceola County, a county in Central Florida with rapidly changing demographics (it’s the 18th fastest-growing county in the U.S.) and increasing political influence.

Whether I had to investigate the county’s budget cuts or spotlight a local veteran’s 100th birthday, every assignment was an opportunity to tell a story.

I loved my recorder, but I never showed up to a meeting or interview without my notebook. I still own all of them.

I loved my recorder, but I never showed up to a meeting or interview without my notebook.

Beginning my writing career as a journalist showed me how to:

  • Work independently under daily deadlines

  • Translate national events to a local level

  • Analyze dense information (like county budgets and lawsuit filings) and present it in an easy-to-understand format.

TAKING A LOOK BACK

The News-Gazette published a print edition twice weekly and daily online. Its digital archives expired when a new publishing company took over the paper’s management.

Thanks to the magic of the Wayback Machine and the University of Florida’s newspaper archives, we can take a look back.

Scroll to explore a few highlights and headlines from my reporting days.