Steer the public conversation around King's memory toward economic justice through yearlong reporting project. Recommendations from the reporting were presented at a national symposium April 3, 2018.

Amplify the voices of marginalized groups, especially low-income workers, through compelling storytelling. Articles published in Talk Poverty, The Nation and other media outlets.

Invited to create first-ever journalism course, “Writing and Reporting about Race and Class.” Teach students how to spot bias in published work and how to avoid stereotypes in their reporting.

Write about education and racial equity with a focus on solutions.

Write about racial and economic justice for ESPN's vertical on the intersection of sports, race and culture.

Selected as one of 24 journalists for prestigious fellowship at Harvard University. My research focused on how to deepen the public conversation on economic justice using a multimedia news website and civic engagement campaign.

Shape the conversation about social justice through bimonthly column. Use my well-established social media presence to attract younger audience and unearth story ideas.

Invited to develop senior-level course on inequality in Memphis. Explore disparities through the lens of Dr. Martin Luther King’s speeches and writings. Identify research topics and partners for 2018 economic justice journalism project to mark the 50th anniversary of King’s assassination.

Designed criminal justice coverage plan that stressed original storytelling and quick-turn investigations. Streamlined breaking news workflow to expedite online posting and beat TV stations. Evaluated staff performance, encouraged experimentation and developed reporters for higher-level assignments. • Trained reporters to use live blogging tool to cover local protests following the police shooting death of an unarmed black teen in Ferguson, Missouri• Led reporting team to expose the unintended consequences of a new law affecting pregnant drug users; a lawmaker promised to revisit the law during the next legislative session• Spotted the viral potential in a tweet; story was shared 1,175 times in less than 24 hours

Wrote biweekly local column that generated more digital subscriptions than any other staff writer. Columns were also the site’s most read, most commented and most shared. Extended newspaper’s reach through intensive social media engagement. Conceived and coordinated “Inequality in Memphis,” a three-part multimedia series about the working poor, neighborhood inequality and anti-poverty strategies. Assigned to cover the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the 2009 presidential inauguration and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.Awards included: 2013: Who’s Who on Twitter, Memphis Flyer; Champion of LGBT Equality, Tennessee Equality Project.2012: National Headliner Award contest chairman 2011: Second place for local columns, National Headliner Award2008: Induction into the Scripps Howard Hall of Fame for Commentary; Society of Professional Journalists Green Eyeshade Awards, second place, humorous commentary.2007: Best personal column, Tennessee Press Association; first place, commentary, Best of Scripps Howard. 2006: Third place, humorous commentary, Society of Professional Journalists Green Eyeshade Awards2006: Best of Memphis, Memphis Flyer 2005: Third place, humorous commentary, Society of Professional Journalists’ Green Eyeshade Award2005: Best of Memphis, Memphis Flyer2005: Newspaper Association of America’s Presstime “20 under 40” industry leaders2004: Best of Memphis, Memphis Flyer 2004: First place, Best of Scripps Howard in commentary2004: First place, humorous commentary, Society of Professional Journalists’ Green Eyeshade Award2003: Second place, Best of Scripps Howard in commentary2003: University of Memphis Association of Black Journalists Ida B. Wells Torch award “for courage and truth-telling in community journalism”

Created and grew nonprofit race relations initiative that gives people a safe space to have tough conversations about race. More than 2,000 people have completed the six-week dialogue-to-action program.

Orchestrated production of Sunday’s Arts and Books and Travel sections. Managed the six staff writers who cover visual arts, theater, classical music, dance and travel. Shepherded a staff of nine into producing surprising and entertaining coverage of the arts in the Carolinas.

Like a train conductor and sometimes a circus performer, I kept all the trains moving on time while juggling breaking news. Also executed a content overhaul of the Sunday local news section. Recruited, hired, molded and sometimes scolded summer interns.

Assigned and edited stories from police and courts reporters. As city editor, ensured the daily news budget was full, helped to decide story play, and oversaw a newsroom staff of 30. Chaired the newsroom’s Diversity Committee.

Coordinated late-breaking news coverage, assigned and edited news for the local sections of the weekend newspaper. Supervised night side reporters, interns, obituary writers and news clerks. Developed larger network of statewide stringers.

Coordinated late-breaking news coverage, assigned and edited news for the local sections of the weekend newspaper. Supervised night side reporters, interns, obituary writers and news clerks. Developed larger network of statewide stringers.

Covered the city and township school systems and public and private colleges. Part of the Star’s award-winning team investigating the quality of city schools. Chosen to be on the paper’s first public journalism election team. Also covered police and breaking news.