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Experience.
DIGITAL DIRECTOR for WOWT 6 News — December 2018-Present
- Set digital audience growth goals and monitor station’s progress.
- Write/implement digital strategies — including live-streaming, structured content posting, push alerts, social media — for all local coverage.
- Update livestream processes.
- Develop/execute mobile and OTT strategies.
- Develop real-time news strategies, including those that adhere to deployment rules on embargoed coverage.
- Post/edit/update news stories on website, maximizing SEO and augmenting web posts with interactive embeds.
- Monitor and report on digital analytics, adjust strategies to increase key metrics.
- Monitor messages and comments made on branded social media accounts.
- Mentor station’s digital leaders and coach others struggling with digital progress.
- Post/edit/update news stories on the KMTV website, maximizing SEO, and augmenting web posts with interactive embeds.
- Executed new website rollout.
DIGITAL DIRECTOR for KMTV 3 News Now — October 2017-December 2018
- Worked with corporate digital staff to troubleshoot/fix/improve digital platforms.
- Wrote/implement digital strategies — including live streaming on and posting to OTT, structured content posting, push alerts, and social media — for all local coverage, from breaking news to special events and reports.
- Monitored/reported on digital analytics, adjusting strategies to increase key metrics.
- Monitored messages/comments made on branded social media accounts.
- Mentored station’s digital leaders and coach others struggling with digital progress.
- Posted/edited/updated news stories on the website, augmenting posts with interactive embeds to increase reader engagement and maximize SEO.
- Executed new website rollout.
MANAGING REAL-TIME EDITOR for KMTV 3 News Now — June-October 2017
- Post/edit/update news stories on the KMTV website, augmenting web posts with interactive embeds to increase quality and reader engagement and maximize SEO.
- Monitor and report on digital analytics, adjust strategies to increase key metrics.
- Monitor messages and comments made on branded social media accounts.
- Write/execute digital strategies for special projects coverage, like the 2017 Eclipse.
- Deploy reporters/photographers/MMJs to breaking news scenes and guide coverage.
- Talk with potential sources to determine whether a tip warrants further investigation or coverage. Interact with viewers via phone, email, or social messaging to answer questions, obtain news tips, or hear out opinions about our coverage.
- Assist producers with tracking down accurate/verifiable information on deadline.
COMMUNICATIONS for the Omaha Conservatory of Music — August 2014-May 2017
- Managed deployment of new website, building out sections and writing/updating content for entire site.
- Initiated/managed organization’s use of Google Apps, including deployment and staff training.
- Managed, expanded, and monitored analytics for branded social media accounts.
- Wrote official branded marketing emails, managing/segmenting an e-mailing database.
- Secured/managed advertising, conceptualizing campaigns and overseeing production.
- Conceptualized/wrote fundraising campaigns for web and social media.
- Art directed all marketing pieces; write copy and gathered imagery; and managed production, editing and publishing, seeking bids, and working with vendors.
- Created/maintained intranet.
- Wrote/edited press releases and other promotional copy.
- Served as photographer, videographer, and IT/tech support, troubleshooting hardware, software, apps, and small-scale back-end management.
EMERGING PLATFORMS DIRECTOR, managing mobile, social media and data projects for daily, breaking and enterprise coverage published across the Los Angeles News Group (now known as the Southern California News Group) // L.A. Daily News, Daily Breeze, Long Beach Press-Telegram, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, Whittier Daily News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Redlands Daily Facts — August 2013-July 2014
- Managed team responsible for mobile, social media, and interactive projects across nine newsrooms in the greater-Los Angeles area.
- Configured, monitored, and reported on analytics for 27 mobile apps and 45 social media accounts, adjusting mobile and social strategies to align with newsroom and company goals.
- Worked with regional and corporate leaders and developers to catalog and test integrations on mobile and online platforms.
- Assisted mobile app developer with QA during branded app building, rollout, and troubleshooting.
- Maintained/analyzed social media and push-alert schedules and strategies for daily, breaking, and enterprise news coverage.
- Trained personnel in multiple newsrooms to administrate apps, including push-alerts; and on social media best practices.
- Worked with developer from national team to conceptualize/QA large-scale data-viz project for local in-depth enterprise project.
- Selected to pursue a years-long immersive project with Esri exploring potential uses for geo-data in day-to-day and project reporting.
NEWS DIGITAL DIRECTOR for the Los Angeles News Group — September 2011-August 2013
- Managed digital workflows for web teams in multiple newsrooms during daily, breaking and enterprise news coverage.
- Expanded social media coverage and reach.
- Wrote and executed daily and enterprise social media strategies for 36 social media accounts.
- Deployed mobile push-alerts across company’s 27 mobile news apps.
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR for the Inland Empire News Group // The Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Redlands Daily Facts — April 2010-September 2011
- Developed digital-first breaking news workflows.
- Managed team responsible for web posting.
- Taught key personnel in three newsrooms to directly post content to their websites.
- Established branded Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as posting practices for three newsrooms.
- Designed and edited print and multimedia aspects of a project alongside the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.
INTERIM EDITOR for the Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, Calif.) — February-April 2010
- Temporarily led a small daily local newsroom in Southern California.
- Monitored newsroom analytics.
- Helped reporters and photographers develop story ideas.
- Participated in daily conference calls with other editors in the region.
- Kept other editors apprised of newsroom coverage and progress on shared content.
- Talked with community members to gather coverage feedback and story ideas.
- Gave first- and/or second-reads to local news copy submitted by reporters.
- Proofread and edited broadsheet news pages on deadline.
DESIGN EDITOR for the Inland Empire News Group — September 2005-April 2010
- Led print design efforts for daily, breaking and enterprise news coverage.
- Managed graphics team.
- Designed and stylized high-profile projects and other high-impact coverage, including graphics.
- Created workflows, templates and best practices to streamline workloads of consolidated copy desk responsible for daily publication of two newspapers, which became the basis of workflows deployed during further copy desk consolidation that eventually covered the production of nine daily newspapers, including integration of graphics team onto copy desk.
- Established workflows for one of the nation’s first consolidated copy desks.
COLUMNIST/BLOGGER for Inland Living magazine — 2007-2008
- Developed local blog geared focusing on social activities of young professionals living in Southern California’s Inland Empire.
- Adapted blog for column published in several editions of local monthly magazine.
PAGE DESIGNER/COPY EDITOR for The Sun (San Bernardino, Calif.) — March 2003-September 2005
- Designed front pages, section covers, and interior broadsheet news pages as assigned before deadline.
- Copy edited stories on assigned broadsheet pages before deadline.
- Wrote headlines for copy for assigned broadsheet pages before deadline.
- Chose and edited photos for assigned broadsheet pages before deadline.
- Adjusted page design, editing headlines, photos, captions, and copy on deadline in the event of breaking news.
- Proofread and edited broadsheet pages before sending them to press before deadline.
PAGE DESIGNER/COPY EDITOR for The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.) — August 2000-March 2003
- Designed front pages, section covers, and interior broadsheet news pages as assigned before deadline.
- Copy edited stories on assigned broadsheet pages before deadline.
- Wrote headlines for copy for assigned broadsheet pages before deadline.
- Chose and edited photos for assigned broadsheet pages before deadline.
- Adjusted page design, editing headlines, photos, captions, and copy on deadline in the event of breaking news.
- Proofread and edited broadsheet pages before sending them to press before deadline.
ASSISTANT CITY EDITOR for the Chronicle-Tribune (Marion, Ind.) — November 1999-August 2000
- Gave first- and/or second-reads to local news copy submitted by reporters.
- Wrote first-draft headlines for news copy.
- Worked with newsroom leaders to help reporters and photographers to develop story ideas.
- Organized news releases and make story and photo assignments.
- Wrote news briefs from press releases.
- Answered newsroom phone line and react to information accordingly and with effective customer service.
- Proofread and edited broadsheet news pages on deadline.
PAGE DESIGNER/COPY EDITOR for the Chronicle-Tribune (Marion, Ind.) — January-November 1999
- Designed front pages, section covers, and interior broadsheet news pages as assigned before deadline.
- Copy edited stories on assigned broadsheet pages before deadline.
- Wrote headlines for copy for assigned broadsheet pages before deadline.
- Chose and edited photos for assigned broadsheet pages before deadline.
- Adjusted page design, editing headlines, photos, captions, and copy on deadline in the event of breaking news.
- Proofread and edited broadsheet pages before sending them to press before deadline.
Freelancing & Volunteerism.
SPIELBOUND Secretary & Communications — March 2018-Present
- Conceptualized/wrote/edited weekly newsletter deployed via MailChimp, developing themes, creating art, and writing headlines and copy through June 2021.
- Created and maintained MailChimp templates and mailing lists for the organization.
- Worked with website developer to redesign nonprofit arm’s website.
- Deploy Facebook posts to align with organizational mission.
- Establish social media best-practices for the organization, including deployment of Facebook events.
- Attend board meetings as volunteer Secretary.
- Advise on marketing and communications strategy and execution.
DO SPACE Volunteer mentor — 2016-2018
- Volunteered up to three hours weekly to meet with anyone requesting assistance with or advice on projects ranging from digital marketing, social media — basic and strategic, website building, data gathering and visualization, Microsoft and Google apps, and other digital apps, projects, and concepts.
- Maintained availability calendar.
- Provided feedback on volunteer program management.
KOHLL’S PHARMACY marketing strategy & production — 2018-2019
- Conceptualize/write/edit social media campaigns.
- Deploying Facebook posts to align with company goals.
- Establish social media best-practices for the business.
- Advise on social media marketing strategy, execution, and content.
UNNAMED LOCAL NEWS WEBSITE start-up project — October 2018
- Conceptualized modern digital newsroom focusing on real-time local news coverage without ties to legacy media product.
- Wrote start-up proposal and made pitch to national media venture company.
- Gave progress updates to venture company managers.
- Established database of potential local donors.
- Canceled after national media venture company sold off all its current journalism start-up projects.
WRITE ON CARDS online & print marketing — 2016
- Conceptualized, designed, and wrote content for commercial website, including set-up and installation of online purchasing software.
- Designed commercial branding, including logo variations.
PATIO PLAYHOUSE — 2012-2015
- Conceptualized/wrote/designed promotional materials, including posters, mailers, handouts.
- Developed templates for playhouse promotional materials.
- Designed original illustrations for use in promotional materials.
- Made edits and adjustments on request.
GENEALOGY BOOK project — 2009
- Edited and proofread copy for 145-page book.
- Adapted “interactive” print design concept for use in storytelling.
- Adapted original illustrations into family tree diagrams.
- Researched and implemented mass publishing order in hard-back, soft-back, and digital editions.
Education.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE • JOURNALISM | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | December 1998
Accolades & Affiliations.
ASSOCIATED PRESS GREAT PLAINS Best website • Second place — 2018
DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA ideaLab member (approx. $30,000 awarded)
- Selected as one of about a dozen projects (from about 50) for execution, with the goal of developing concepts for use across all DFM newsrooms.
- Submitted project proposal for approval by Esri leadership.
- Developed workflows for geo-data interactive embeds for online L.A. News Group coverage and special projects using ArcMaps and ArcGIS.
- Worked with Esri personnel on an ongoing weekly basis to develop large-scale geo-locational data projects for the L.A. News Group
- Helped test new features on Esri platforms and brainstorm added features.
LOS ANGELES NEWS GROUP Ethics Committee member
- Regularly met with others selected from varying departments across the L.A. News Group to determine ethics policy.
- Wrote and maintained ethics policy documents.
- Advised on ethical situations that arise, as assigned by group management.
LOS ANGELES NEWS GROUP Futures Committee member
- Regularly met with others selected from varying departments across the L.A. News Group to guide goal-setting and group evolution.
- Advised on technologies and other related topics, as assigned by group management.
INLAND EMPIRE NEWSPAPER GROUP Wes Hughes Award
- First visual journalist to win the internal annual award.
ONLINE NEWS ASSOCIATION Unconference volunteer — 2012
- Liveblogger for “Unconference” sessions, allowing conference attendees to view and participate short-form presentations not selected for formal conference sessions.
POYNTER INSTITUTE Big Ideas/Best Practices conference presenter — 2009
- Conference presenter for “buzz-style” news writing and presentation, consisting of condensed news items written in a more conversational style and designed in a way to catch readers’ attention.
- Award of Excellence winner for front page design of special report.
- California state leader, serving as representative for Inland Empire, organizing educational gatherings and informing current and potential members of workshops and other organization-sponsored events.
- SND Foundation grant recipient (approx. $750 awarded) to attend SND Denver conference & web-design workshop taught by industry leaders David Wright (of npr.org) and Tyson Evans (of nytimes.com).
THE DESERT SUN Editorial Board member • Staff representative — 2002
- Selected as one of two staff representatives to serve for three to six months on newspaper’s editorial board.
- Sat in on weekly meetings with publisher, executive and opinion editors, second staff member, and two selected members of the public to review and discuss relevant current topics, contributing to conversation in order to arrive at newspaper’s position and/or endorsement.
- Wrote a guest column published on the opinion page of the Sept. 11, 2002, edition.
Skills.
PHOTO/VIDEO || Live & studio shooting | Editing & production | Promotional branding
WRITING/EDITING || Promotional copy | Social media posts & campaigns | Website content | Press releases | Special projects
PROJECT MANAGEMENT || On/off-site production management | Workflow development | Branding
PRINT/NEWS DESIGN || Copywriting | Editing | Book editing/production | Illustration
CURATION || Social media | Interactive embeds | Special report structuring | SEO
Proficiencies.
DIGITAL STRATEGY || Real-time breaking, daily, and enterprise news coverage | App management | SEO & SEM
WORKFLOW DEVELOPMENT || Newsroom management
SOCIAL MEDIA/SMM || Facebook | Facebook Groups | Facebook Messenger | Twitter | TweetDeck | TweetChat | LinkedIn | Instagram | Snapchat | WordPress | Tumblr | Pinterest | Buffer | HootSuite | Social News Desk | Reddit | YouTube | Vimeo | Giphy | Imgur | Bitmoji
WEB APPS || MailChimp | Slack | Google apps | WordPress | TimelineJS | ScribbleLive | Shopify | Storify (R.I.P.) | Timeline JS | SoundCite | Grammarly
CMS || Arc Publishing | Brightspot | ENPS | ExpressionEngine | SquareSpace | Google Sites | Saxotech | NGPS | Clickability | HTML
ADOBE || Premiere | Photoshop (& GIMP) | Lightroom | InDesign (& Quark) | Illustrator | Acrobat
GEO APPS || Google Maps | ArcGIS | Esri Story Maps
OFFICE APPS || Google apps | Microsoft Office | OpenOffice
ANALYTICS || Google Analytics | Omniture | Similar Web | Facebook Insights | Twxplorer | AppFigures | CrowdTangle | Sprout Social | Klout
Gina Dvorak 