My beat at the News-Sun encompasses the city of Waukegan, most of the school districts across Lake County and various other topics as needed, balancing the local needs of the News-Sun with the more regional approach of the Chicago Tribune. My recent coverage has included investigations into the hiring of a Chicago Public Schools employee fired for sexual abuse, into the preferential treatment of police officers suspected of driving under the influence and the role of video gambling dollars in the April election.

As the city of Crystal Lake reporter for the Northwest Herald, I was responsible for covering the newspaper's most populated community. I was asked to take over the beat in the fall of 2014 after covering the north towns beat, a collection of 11 communities, five school districts, the county's conservation district and the Fox Waterway Agency. In addition to normal beat coverage, Northwest Herald reporters are required to work rotating evening and weekend breaking news shifts and to turn in front-page centerpiece features that will appeal across coverage areas.Over the years, I have developed a particular interest in data-driven reporting, using databases to find local trends and using statistics to give context to otherwise routine articles. By converting these reservoirs of information into interactive charts, graphics and maps, I have also been able to give the readers who want it a next step in learning more or a way to look at their own school, hospital or park.

As the state issues reporter for Sauk Valley Media, I bring what's happening in Springfield to the Sauk Valley. During the 2011 veto session, I reported from Springfield while maintaining my coverage of the city of Dixon. I focused on the proposed closure of the Jack Mabley Developmental Center, the pay of regional superintendents and Sen. Mike Jacobs' smart grid legislation. I also live-tweeted veto session as well as the public hearing on the Mabley closure.Besides utilizing social media, I developed interactive Flash and static graphics, including a timeline on Nicholas T. Sheley, who was convicted of murder in Knox County and awaits trial in the deaths of four adults and one child in Whiteside County and two adults in Jefferson County, Mo. The graphic increased traffic to older articles that were brought out from behind the archival paywall for the project. It has been continuously updated as the trials progressed.

During my semester as an intern for the Brussels bureau, I covered the European Union and Belgium, particularly social issues like education and lifestyle topics for Reuters Life!, including pieces about Brussels fashion and Belgium beer. I also assisted during major events, including European summits and the austerity protests during which tens of thousand protested in Brussels.

As a general assignment reporter, I covered a wide variety of topics, including crime, city and county government and agriculture. I wrote features on stun guns, the lieutenant governor’s involvement in the sale of a North Dakota cooperative and the questionable rescinding of the sale of a city hall. I also filled in as a photographer and trained the newsroom in how to make information graphics in Adobe Illustrator. I developed a guide for current and future employees on how to effectively use and create bar, line and pie graphs.

Managed the newsroom, assigned and edited articles, served as liaison with Columbia office, coordinated with information graphics reporters and photographers, reported on state government, wrote feature on Missouri incarceration system accompanied by own graphics.

Reported on state government, especially covered energy, agriculture and the state treasurer race, wrote features on home schooling and raw milk.

Covered city government and school board as a stringer.