Jordan the Writer
I not only enjoy reading and editing other's stories but I love to create my own as well. While, my own personal narratives have yet to see the light of day, I have been fortunate enough to have numerous journalistic and research pieces published in blogs, magazines, a scholarly journal, a newspaper, grant proposals, and even scripts for donation commercials.
FOOD&WINE MagazineI wrote for the cookbook, cocktail, and restaurant review page for both issues. I was honored to write the feature piece in the September "Back to Basics with Lamb".
It was an unexpected challenge to write for F&W. I had to accommodate for both the difference in geographical culture as well as the foodie audience I was unfamiliar with. I am the furthest thing from a foodie. I burned a pot of peas so badly that the pot is still charred to this day. I do not drink alcohol but I was requested to create my own for the cocktail page. I have never opened a cookbook, yet I was requested to write 12 summaries for the book review page. I have never eaten lamb in my life, but I wrote a feature article that discussed the intricacies of the meat and how it can be cooked in detail. Yet, despite my lack of familiarities with these subjects, I was able to craft articles that my editor said "fit the voice of FOOD&WINE". My experience writing for F&W taught me that my voice as a writer is special and that I should never lose it. However, I also need to be able to adapt it to the reader. There were numerous times when the editor or deputy editor would come to be to ask about a reference or term they didn't understand. I had to go back each time and try to incorporate Irish-American slang terms and concepts. It was both frustrating and so much fun. |
ing MagazineWhen I first wrote for ing Magazine in 2013, it was publication for MSU students by MSU students.
However, soon after I had begun writing for the magazine, ing was converted to a college course to give Professional Writing students first hand experience in the magazine publishing industry. Even though ing remains an undergraduate student run publication, it is currently owned by M3 Group. M3 plays an active role in the educating of students as well as the magazine's publication by finishing most of the layout and sending it to print. Despite the change in ownership, ing remains an Entertainment and the Arts magazine aimed at MSU college students. In 2013, I wrote "Girl Talk" featuring an interview with Stephanie Amada about her new book Hooking Up: A Sexy Encounter With A Choice. It was an article that circulated the Professional Writing and English departments as well as Ms. Amada's website. I also did the photography for the article and worked one-on-one with a fellow student to design the art. For the new ing Magazine, I co-wrote the April/May issue's Editors' Note with two other classmates. I also interviewed and crafted the bio for fellow staff member, Ian Terry, that will be featured on ing's blog. He did the same for me. |
The Sun Times NewsIn addition to being the Production Assistant for The Sun Times News, I am also a Staff Writer.
The second Monday of every month, I attend the Stockbridge Board of Education Meeting where I take notes and interviews. I write an a summary article for that week's paper. In addition to my monthly Stockbridge B.O.E assignment, I also am assigned business spotlights. For these articles, I interview business owners in person and over the phone. I also take my own photos for the newspaper. I attended and wrote a review for Talley's Folly, a performance by Chelsea's Purple Rose Theatre Company. My editor said "Very nice on the play review! You grabbed my attention and kept my interest. This is a good piece." I attended the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Meeting to report on the large business award bestowed upon the Chelsea Area District Library. My editor and the marketing department were very pleased with the article. It served as incentive for the Library and numerous other businesses to advertise with our newspaper. Mikro-GrafIn high school, I was a student of the Histotechnology Program at the Capital Area Career Center. As part of the two year certification preparation program, my class was required to create our own thesis, get our own funding/donations, and hold our own experimental trials.
Once the trials had finished and the results were in, we all wrote research articles and presented our findings for competitive evaluation. I was honored with the MSH Education Exhibit of Excellence award at the May 2010 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Michigan Society of Histotechnologists where I presented my work. My research was featured in the summer 2010 issue of Mikro-Graf, the official publication for the Michigan Society of Histotechnologists. |
WRAC Department BlogAs a Communications Management Intern for Michigan State University's Writing Rhetoric and American Cultures (WRAC) Department, I interviewed departmental faculty and students for a single 250 word minimum blog post and two 150 word minimum posts for the department's website. I also provided photography for many of these posts.
Every other month, my supervisor and I brainstormed a showcase article for me to write, in addition to my other duties, and complete in three weeks. Showcases include a min limit of 500 words, multiple photos, multiple sources, and multiple interviews. They were always the hardest to write but they are also the pieces I am the most proud of because of it. In addition to writing weekly blog posts, my fellow intern and I ran the department's social media and Wordpress website, Two of my bigger projects involved rallying staff and updating the photos on the People's page as well as adding an introduction and Professional Writing (PW) reception videos to the About Professional Writing page. In my final showcase draft, my supervisor wrote "Great story you have come along way with your showcase pieces." WKARAs a Professional Writing intern for WKAR I worked one-on-one with the Assistant Director of Development, Betsy Rueckert, to write grant letters of intent and applications to help fund the station's current and prospective children's programs.
Mrs. Rueckert and I also co-wrote scripts for prominent WKAR members to read for televised calls for donations for the station's 60th anniversary. Independently, I created multiple letters that were officially sent to WKAR donors and members to address the loss of the Metropolitan Opera, the installment of a new program called "Current State", and a call for volunteers for the Radio Reading Pledge Drive and Kids Club Program. |