Richmond BizSense
Business Reporter
Richmond, Virginia —– June 2016-Present
Currently assigned the commercial real estate and restaurant beats – two of the most coveted and high-volume beats at our publication. I am responsible for daily content to be published on our online platform and daily morning email. Duties include daily contact with prolific local developers and brokers; and keeping track, and following up, on confidential source meetings and news tips. Meet regularly with county and city planners overseeing several developments at the municipal level.
Daily Press Media Group
Business Reporter
Newport News, Virginia —– June 2014-June 2016
Covered real estate, the Port of Virginia, manufacturing, government, economic development and transportation. Regularly produced and recorded the “Hampton Roads Business Minute” on WHRV-FM 89.5. Published the Daily Press’ “TidewaterBiz” business newsletter. Maintained regular contact with high-profile business officials overseeing major companies such as Ferguson Enterprises, Huntington Ingalls, Liebherr, Canon Virginia and Smithfield Foods to produce exclusive news content.
Greater Wilmington Business Journal
Business Reporter
Wilmington, North Carolina —– October 2011-June 2014
Completed stories on commercial and residential real estate topics, including bankruptcies, and high-profile real estate transactions and developments. Instrumental in helping redesign and transform regional real estate coverage by introducing the “Business Leads” section, which tracked residential and new business permit activity across the tri-county coverage area. Maintained solid relationships with high-ranking regional and statewide real estate officials. Co-produced, reported and completed live stand-up interviews about various business topics with NBC affiliate WECT-TV Channel 6.
Community Impact Newspapers
Government Reporter
Grapevine, Texas —– March 2011-October 2011
Enhanced online and print government coverage for one of the fastest growing areas of northeastern Tarrant County by combing county and city budgets, and maintaining very important relationships with high-profile local and state government officials. Delivered breaking news coverage on important stories about business growth, multi-billion dollar transportation projects and government taxation. Helped launch Community Impact’s Facebook page, and regularly updated the newspaper’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Williamson County Sun Newspaper
Government Reporter/Staff Photographer
Georgetown, Texas —– September 2009-December 2010
Served as a senior staff writer for various county and city government topics, including city council and county commissioners’ meetings, new businesses, transportation and law enforcement activities. Maintained solid relationships with key business and community leaders, while delivering important daily headlines on budget amendments, and major economic development projects and announcements. Encouraged and developed alternative story format reporting by working with editors to create visually appealing graphics and photos to help tell stories and engage audience readership.
Longview News-Journal Newspaper
Government Reporter
Longview, Texas —– February 2008-September 2009
Oversaw and implemented widespread reporting duties in Gregg, Rusk and Panola counties – covering education, business development, governing bodies and committees, and breaking news. Key team player in helping organize and implement large-scale reporting coverage related to Hurricane Ike, annual standardized test score results and oil and gas development. Broke several news stories related to the region’s booming oil and gas industry, and helped oversee focus groups that shaped online and print products. Submitted, edited and posted breaking news stories to the newspaper’s website.
Austin American-Statesman Newspaper
Intern General Assignments Reporter
Austin, Texas —– May-August 2007
Served as an intern reporter during the summer of 2007 while enrolled as a senior at the University of North Texas. Covered various crime reporting shifts, and assisted senior level staff writers with research projects and reporting. Contributed daily headlines for online and print publications. Was part of the award-winning reporting team that covered the funeral of the late Lady Bird Johnson. Submitted and posted breaking news to the newspaper’s website and blog. Was part of a team of veteran reporters and managers tasked with developing strategies to push locally generated content through new, up-and-coming social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
North Texas Daily Newspaper
Editor-in-chief
Denton, Texas —– August-December 2007
Oversaw the publication of the Texas’ third-largest public university, student run newspaper. Regularly posted and edited breaking news and daily stories the website. Maintained order and organization of daily columns, entertainment reviews and news stories. Managed a team of more than 75 staff members, editors and freelancers. Regularly met with major university stakeholders including the university’s president, chancellor and Board of Regents about important school topics such as the campus master plan, program growth and overall direction of enrollment growth.
COLOR CODES
Green denotes collegiate professional employment
Blue denotes professional employment post graduation
J. Elias O'Neal 