Dru Sefton Email & Phone Number

San Francisco, California, United States

I manage all logistical support in three busy newsrooms for this historic nonprofit investigative news magazine and website. I am a Jane of All Trades, handling everything from developing bureau security protocols to assisting staffers with human resources tasks, reconciling credit card statements, assembling furniture, overseeing supplies, stocking the magazine archives, and outsmarting stubborn printers. Subscribe today!

Washington, D.C. And New York City

I began my MoJo career assisting reporters and editors in two East Coast bureaus before my position was eliminated due to the pandemic.

Takoma Park, Md.

Current is American University School of Communication’s print and online publication covering public media. It is the journalistically independent national trade publication for nonprofit media including PBS and NPR as well as affiliated stations and independent producers.I worked quickly and independently to produce prodigious amounts of copy. My specific beat was the complex field of public television. I was responsible for coverage of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, federal funding and PBS as well as news from more than 200 public television stations. My stories included everything from daily breaking news to long-form investigative reports.I collaborated closely with my editors on deadline to produce print issues and daily digital copy. I also compiled and wrote the "Comings and Goings" people-news column, Current’s most popular feature. My daily tasks included helping to administer Current’s Facebook page and Twitter account, as well as writing and posting breaking news for Current’s website.

Washington, D.C.

News and Web Editor, 2006-2008 • Selected and copy edited stories from 26 newspapers with combined circulation of more than 3 million. Collaborated in team editorial meetings to determine which of hundreds of daily stories to feature on wire and Web.• Worked on news-desk team to initiate massive culture shift within newspaper chain, facilitating communication among papers and establishing customer-service relationship between hub D.C. bureau and distant editors.• Updated public Web site Newhouse.com twice daily, as well as for breaking news as needed. Processed and posted content, selected and posted photographs. Revved up site design by initiating use of photographs on inside pages. Proficient in Mambo and Expression Engine CMS, Adobe Photoshop, WordPress.National Correspondent, 2000-2006• Bylines in more than 30 newspapers across North America including The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Newark Star-Ledger. • Was first reporter in nation (as per Nexis search) to identify and analyze importance of “hanging chads” in 2000 election recount (“ 'Hanging Chad' a Tiny, but Sometimes Meaningful, Aspect of Vote Recounts”).• Conducted rare interview with reclusive author Arthur C. Clarke via telephone from his home in Thailand jungle (“2001: An ‘Odyssey’ Odyssey”).• Wrote hundreds of unprecedented stories, including those uncovering surprising facts (“Fear of Flying Can Be an Issue for Pilots, Too”), consumer scams (“High-End Linens Get FTC Scrutiny for Inflated Thread Counts”) and hidden trends (“Anti-Adoption Activists Buck Tide of Public Opinion”), among many other topics.

• Discovered that the Equal Rights Amendment was still technically viable (“Supporters Work to Revive ERA”).• Interviewed Jesse Jackson on witnessing famous “I have a dream” speech, voted the top speech of the 20th century (“In a Century of Speeches, Certain Words Still Soar”).• Revealed often quirky national trends in local stories (“Baby Jesus is Easy Target for Thefts from Nativity Scenes”).

Kansas City, Mo.

• Worked on copy-desk team editing stories and crafting headlines for daily and multiple weekend sections of 250,000-circulation, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper.• Landed the first interview with President Clinton’s secretary, Betty Currie, for Secretary’s Day story (“Re: The President's Secretary”). • Reported for daily features section as well as news front page (“'Simple Living, High Thinking': Hare Krishnas Back in KC to Spread Message”), Travel (“Yelapa, Mexico, a Great Place to Do Nothing”) and Food (“Oh, the Shame: Fruitcake Lovers Prefer to Hide Their Passion”).

Bloomington, Il

Wrote, edited and produced newsroom special sections, handled daily newspaper production on weekends.

Waukegan, Il

Reported on local news.