Ericka Blount Danois

443-889-8815

www.erickablount.com

erickablount@aol.com

 

 

Credentials: MS, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

 

Professional Profile:

Accomplished writer, reporter, and editor with extensive body of work in print media appealing to a mass audience, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Baltimore Sun. Creative self-starter with a master’s degree from Columbia University and Spanish proficiency. Well versed in GPO, Wall Street Journal, and AP styles. Proficient in In Design, Pro Tools, and Final Cut Pro.

 

Relevant Experience:

 

Consultant/Writer/Editor: Radio One, Inc., AOL (2010-present). Write and edit content, implement tools to increase traffic, aggregate content, advise on layout design, and hire bloggers and writers for Newsone.com. Write feature stories, blogs, and breaking news stories for AOL’s Patch.com and AOL Black Voices.

 

Freelance writer, Baltimore, MD (2003-present). Regular feature contributor to: Wax Poetics magazine, American Way, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore magazine, The Crisis, Sports Illustrated, Heart and Soul, Black Enterprise, Baltimore City Paper,  The New York Times, The Washington City Paper,  The Washington Post Style section, JazzTimes, NY Daily News, The Source, Rap Pages, New Word, Columbia magazine, and OneWorld, among others. Freelance editor for Simon and Schuster and stringer for ESPN, the magazine.  (see: www.erickablount.com). Notable interviews have included Andy Rooney, Ed Koch, Rachel Dratch, Quincy Jones, Olu Dara, Nas, Jackie McLean, Todd Wagner, Etan Thomas, David Simon, Ed Burns, and Ernest Dickerson.

 

City Editor, Uptown magazine, Washington, DC. (2007-present). Conceptualize, write, and edit content for lifestyle related topics; including restaurant reviews, arts and entertainment profiles, and other lifestyle issues.

 

Writer/Editor, The National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth, JBS International, Inc., Silver Spring, MD. (2005-present). Write and edit grant proposals, and print and electronic publications, in English and Spanish, on topics related to at-risk youth. Translate technical knowledge for general audiences. Products range from booklets to quarterly periodicals to full-length guidebooks. Also create podcasts for diverse audiences on topics related to at-risk youth

 

Professor, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD. (2006-present) Teach media writing courses that introduce students to writing in a professional environment and to the styles of writing for the mass media; these forms include news stories for print and broadcast and advertising and public relations copy. In addition, teach courses that prepare students for the workforce with on and off campus internships, guiding students through the process of obtaining and succeeding in a media internship.

 

Staff writer, The City Paper, Baltimore, MD (2002-2003). Obtained an exclusive interview with President Fidel Castro while traveling with the National Black Farmers Association to Cuba for a story on them negotiating a deal to sell produce to Cuba. Responsible for covering weekly hard news stories in addition to covering feature stories and political campaign stories.

 

Staff writer, The Press of Atlantic City (1999-2000). Covered hard news, police stories, music, features, and enterprise stories on three neighborhood beats—Absecon, Port Republic, and Pleasantville.

 

News assistant, The Wall Street Journal (1997-1999). Wrote feature stories and proofread copy for national news desk. Notable interviews have included Andy Rooney, Frank O. Gehry, Richard Meier, former Mayor Ed Koch, and Sheila Bridges.

 

Researcher, Vibe magazine (1996-1997) Fact-checked articles, reported on and wrote news and feature articles.

 

Staff writer, The City Sun (1994-1996) Covered politics, police, music, and feature stories in and around New York City. Notable interviews included Tupac Shakur, Jay Z, and Kenny Gamble, among others.

 

Education:

 

·         MS in Journalism from Columbia University, 2004

·         BA in English and African American studies, University of Pennsylvania, 1994

·         Additional coursework from The University of Ghana, African studies, 1993

 

Other Expertise:

 

·         Taught 7th grade English in Montgomery County public schools, substitute teacher in Washington, D.C. and New York City public schools

·         Volunteered as a tutor and counselor for youth

·         Edited and proofed 7th grade English textbooks for Simon and Schuster

·         Wrote speeches for Director of Recreation and Parks, Baltimore, MD, City Council President, Baltimore, MD, and former Mayor Martin O’Malley, Baltimore, MD. Wrote press releases, guidebooks, and other media materials relating to youth for the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks. Conducted event planning and garnered news media and local politicians for events.

 

 

Technical Skills:

 

·         Quickbooks

·         Microsoft Word

·         Windows

·         In Design

·         Pro Tools

·         Final Cut Pro

 

 

 

Language Competency:

 

·         Spanish: Proficient

 

 

Awards and Appointments:

*Hermes Platinum Award for brochure:

http://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/publications/pdf/keepintouch.pdf

* Grand Award for Apex Award for Publication Excellence:

http://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/publications/exchange/0707_sop.htm

*Second place for story, "This is My Neighborhood," in Community Service category,   Baltimore magazine, Society of Professional Journalists, 2006

*Nominated for A.D. Emmart Award for reporting in the Humanities, 2004, Baltimore magazine, “This is My Neighborhood.”

*Third place for breaking news story, New Jersey newspapers, 1999

*Deadline Club Scholarship for Journalism, Columbia University, 1999

*Arthur Fauset Award for Community Service, University of Pennsylvania, 1994

*Washington Independent Writers Union