Writer, editor and communications expert

kgjestland@gmail.com 517-740-4450 @kgjestland

Krista Gjestland

I hold a bachelors degree in journalism with a minor in electronic film and media studies. I have spent my post-graduate career as a reporter and editor for a conglomerate of local newspapers, where Ive honed my InDesign, photography, videography and social media skills. Im proficient in AP Style, grammar and usage.

Background

Eastern Michigan University; Bachelor of Science, jou rnalism and electronic film and media studies

Education

Relevant work experience:

Editor, Ypsilanti Courier and Manchester Enterprise
Plan, budget and manage all day-to-day editorial operations for two weekly newspapers in Washtenaw County. Supervise a reporter and five freelancers, which includes assigning stories, editing copy and mentoring as needed. Design and layout about 10 pages of each newspaper during weekly production cycle using InDesign. Write engaging headlines, cutlines and decks for print and the Web. Heritage Media (Washtenaw County, Mich.); August 2012-present Serve as page administrator of the newspapers Facebook and Twitter accounts, to engage the community and maintain an online presence. Post stories to the Web and promote them across social media platforms. Learn, implement and encourage the use of digital tools for the newsroom, such as Storify and Scibd. Fill in on reporting, videography and photography as needed, writing an average of two articles each week. Cultivate and maintain community contacts.

Government and general assignment reporter

Heritage Media (Washtenaw County, Mich.); November 2011-August 2012 Write news and feature stories for eight weekly publications, with a focus on using digital media tools. Seek out new and interesting story angles, with an eye toward enterprise writing. Maintain a growing Facebook and Twitter presence. Shoot and edit videos and photos to accompany my stories online.

Freelance writer, Chelsea Standard and Dexter Leader

Write news and feature stories for two weekly publications, as assigned to me by my editor.

Heritage Media (Washtenaw County, Mich.); November 2011-August 2012 Take photos to accompany my stories for the Web and print.

Chief copy editor

The Eastern Echo (Ypsilanti, Mich.); June 2010 - April 2011 Managing the copy desk and a team of five copy editors during bi-weekly production days. Write engaging headlines, cutlines and decks for print and the Web. Fill in on copy editing breaking news for the Web between print editions. Post stories to the Web, and promote them across social media platforms.

Copy editor/ news writer

The Eastern Echo (Ypsilanti, Mich.); January 2008 June 2010 Edit an assigned section during my shift at the copy desk twice a week. Write engaging headlines, cutlines and decks for print and the Web. Post edited stories to the Web. Write news articles as assigned to me by my editor.

References available upon request