Brian Baker Email & Phone Number

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto, Canada Area

- Write long-form cultural features on Canadian folklore.- Investigate and research sites for historical relevance.- Interview and engage the public regarding sensitive issues like the supernatural and beliefs.- Review films, books that are relevant to the subject matter.- ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Appeared as a guest on Outer Realm with Michelle Desrochers and Amelia Pisano; published in Haunted Magazine; Appeared as a subject matter expert on "I Want to Believe" (Humber College, 2021) and Season 4 of "Haunted Hospitals".

Toronto, Canada Area

• Freelance journalist, photographer and copywriter (Town Crier, Streeter, Sun Media, ThinkSwift.com, New College, ITWC, Dork Shelf and UMM)• Produce and manage online portfolio, brianrbaker.com• Utilize social media, Twitter, Facebook and Google+, to increase brand visibility• Monitor Google Analytics to gauge how users are drawn to personal website• ACCOMPLISHMENT: Guest lecturer at the Black Museum; Paranormal Investigators and their role in horror films

Ottawa, Canada Area

• Edited content for both print and online• Interviewed various people from CEOs to professional athletes to entertainers and fashion models• Liaised with agents, communicators and PR representatives to coordinate interviews• Represented the magazine and brand at gala events• ACCOMPLISHMENT: Helped launch the first issue of Chrome magazine

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

- Increased direct and organic traffic to Onlia by 10%- Wrote and refreshed landing pages to improve traffic by 10% and conversion by 10%- Worked with SEO to create easily navigated content to drive up organic traffic- Optimized content flows for user experienceACCOMPLISHMENTS: Completed the Udemi course Microcopy & UX Writing; Launched GEO pages for growth; Established strong ties with brand partnerships and B2C content

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

- Edited staff and wire content for the Globe and Mail website- Packaged and curated content with video and interstitial links- Collaborated with Globe and Mail editors to ensure content is published on time- Worked with print to ensure copy is prepared for the physical paper

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

- Researched timely and evergreen topics for news video scripts- Wrote simple, quick and impactful scripts for video production- Edited and distilled content for easy-to-read text- Collaborated with video editors, copy editors and voice talent for videos

Toronto, Canada Area

- Edited pages from North American publications like the National Observer, Daily Press and the Virginian-Pilot for Pagemasters North America- Designed pages for print editions of the aforementioned publications- Collaborated with the editorial staff of other publications to meet their requirements- Provided substantive edits and line edits on 2,000 to 3,000-word features

Toronto, Canada Area

• Researched and reported on sports, entertainment and life in midtown Toronto• Photographed candid shots to illustrate articles• Uploaded both visual and print content to the publication's online portal• Interviewed varying people from actors, directors, musicians to politicians and sports figures• ACCOMPLISHMENT: Built a strong rapport with the entertainment and sports communities

Toronto, Canada Area

• Managed the Streeter's four Facebook pages and four Twitter accounts• Grew the Streeter's audience by interacting with local stakeholders, readers• Aggregated content and direct readers to the paper's website• Shared content from readers, businesses in the community• ACCOMPLISHMENT: Launched the Town Crier's Facebook pages and three community Twitter accounts and was responsible for the rebranding to Streeter.

Toronto, Canada Area

• Worked on training materials for agents who deal in customer service• Produced brochures and PowerPoint presentations for B2B and B2C relations • Designed visual content to accompany training materials, brochures and Powerpoint• Liaised with the client in daily and weekly meetings, focusing on reports and analysis

Toronto, Canada Area

• Organized events for the membership and those interested in journalism• Chaired meetings and maintain the minutes• Represented the CAJ brand at industry events

Toronto, Canada Area

• Managed the Twitter account of CAJ Toronto• Coordinated panel on Mental Health and the Newsroom• Liaised with other professional organizations at joint events

Toronto, Canada Area

• Reported on sports, entertainment and life in midtown Toronto• Photographed candid shots to illustrate articles -- earned multiple covers• Uploaded both visual and print content to the publication's online portal• Interviewed prominent entertainment figures (Amy Sky, Ross Petty and James Randi), politicians and athletes• ACCOMPLISHMENT: Earned a spot as a media member for SAG-AFTRA, built a strong rapport with entertainment industry.

Ottawa, Ontario

- Interviewed actors, models for UMM’s “Spotlight” section.- Researched subjects to develop fresh, unique questions. - Scheduled and coordinated initial and follow-up interviews.

Toronto, Canada Area

• Created and edited visual and news content for all Sun Media websites• Managed workflow for Slam! sports and various Sun sites through content management apps• Wrote breaking news and sports flashes and briefs for both print and online, as well as wrote for the Slam! Sports blog• Maintained social media strategy leveraging Twitter, Facebook, Storify and ScribbleLive• ACCOMPLISHMENT: Drove visitors to Sun sites with two interactive vote features published weekly for six weeks: "The Ultimate Horror Villain Scrapfest"​ and "The Ultimate Fighting Game Battle Royale"; Pooled all resources to post and follow the Boston Marathon bombing for the Sun sites until the news desk took over; Organized the Team Canada vote for the men's hockey team at Sochi.

Toronto, Ontario

• Interviewed various figures in midtown Toronto for sports and life features• Managed the sports department, assigned stories for a small corps of sportswriters• Wrote a regular sports column advocating on behalf of amateur sports: "The Game Fixer"​• Copy edited, proof read, and wrote headlines and cutlines through InDesign• ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Coordinated the Athlete of the Year awards for 2010 as well as 2011, and won the Ontario Community Newspapers Associations' Columnist of the Year for 2011

Toronto, Ontario

• Interviewed various figures in midtown Toronto for news, arts and life features• Established a strong network with sources in various capacities in Toronto• Wrote a regular column, "On the Beat"​, describing my travels across midtown Toronto• Copy edited, proof read, and wrote headlines and cutlines through InDesign, Photoshop• ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Helped launch mytowncrier.ca website; coordinated a provincial by-election debate for St. Paul's in 2009; Appeared on Matt Galloway's Metro Morning talking about St. Paul's by-election

Markham, Ontario

• Covered news in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors of construction• Photographed and edited candid photos to accompany articles• ACCOMPLISHMENT: Travelled across Southern Ontario to meet with trades and unions, developing a strong relationship

Toronto, Ontario

• Wrote features profiling tourist destinations in Toronto for online publication• Aggregated information for events calendar• ACCOMPLISHMENT: Helped launch Toronto.com's new website in 2006 by beta-testing functionality

Toronto, Ontario

• Reported on breaking news affecting post-secondary school students.• Maintained a vast network of resources at Queen's Park.• Attended the Ontario Regional and National Conferences representing the province's student publications.

Honours Bachelor Of Arts

Certificate