Writing Portfolio


2009: Technically Philly | MobileBurn | Philadelphia City Paper
2008: Philadelphia Weekly | Technologicology | Philadelphia Magazine
2007: Philebrity | Temple News | Broad & Cecil
2006: Fourth Estate

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Technically Philly

In February 2009, I co-founded Technically Philly, a news startup covering technology and innovation in the Philadelphia region, helping to build an audience of 13,000 local readers. As a reporter with the startup, I’ve covered a range of news and feature stories. Back to top

As public affairs beat writer, I followed technology stories related to city government, like Philadelphia’s push for federal broadband stimulus dollars, filing more than 10,000 words on the important subject, including a comprehensive multimedia report that I wrote and produced with reporting and design help from the rest of the staff.

December 17, 2009 — City of Philadelphia to buy municipal wifi from Network Acquisition

December 1, 2009 — Comcast comments could hurt city broadband stimulus plans

October 16, 2009 — State casts doubt on Digital Philadelphia vision

September 23, 2009 — City CTO: “We have a heck of a shot” for federal broadband stimulus money

September 22, 2009 — City of Philadelphia requests $35 million in federal broadband stimulus application

September 9, 2009 — City CTO and community to publicly discuss broadband policy

August 21, 2009 — Q&A: Thomas Morr of Select Greater Philadelphia

August 2009 — The Digital Philadelphia Vision

May 4, 2009 — City CIO’s $100 million Digital Philadelphia vision

As a general assignment news reporter, I covered a number of spot news stories about political candidates, the public library system, transit system and more.

October 14, 2009 — Ignite Philly 4 hosts Free Library and Mayoral cabinet officials as VGI impresses

September 16, 2009 — Will Free Library technology get dumped?

August 4, 2009 — CoTweet: San Francisco scene has “distinct” advantage over Philadelphia

June 30, 2009 — SEPTA opens Google Transit data to third-party developers

May 13, 2009 — Video walk-through of the new IndyHall coworking facility

May 18, 2009 — Google CEO Eric Schmidt weighs in on Philly’s tech future

May 8, 2009 — Democratic candidates for city controller voice support for paperless government

April 9, 2009 — IndyHall anticipates signing lease after membership drive

March 31, 2009 — Free Library considering more self-service checkout kiosks

February 15, 2009 — Chew on Philly’s tech proposals in bailout package

I also wrote features for Technically Philly about established technology businesses, tech entrepreneurs, local media innovators, university tech initiatives and more.

December 7, 2009 — Historical Society Interactive PhilaPlace Web site needs your stories

November 25, 2009 — Drexel MET-Lab pushing limits of audio and computer interaction

November 4, 2009 — Community leader focuses on Cadence Rowing performance wristwatch business

October 21, 2009 — Temple University’s Computer Recycling Center

September 23, 2009 — Orpheus Media Research music analysis tool Clio

July 28, 2009 — Philadelphia Zoo and Laurel Hill Cemetery get tech exhibits

June 10, 2009 — Obama Girl’s Leah Kauffman on Phrequency.com redesign

April 8, 2009 — TruePosition knows exactly where you are right now

MobileBurn

As editor of MobileBurn, a consumer site covering the mobile phone industry, I filed more than 1,200 stories in 2009 about cellular phones, cellular networks, mobile software and trends in the industry. I also wrote reviews of handsets including video and photo accompaniment. Writing an average of 5 stories per day, I increased my monthly page views from 100,000 in January to 300,000 in December. All of my archived stories are available at the MobileBurn site. Back to top

Philadelphia City Paper

After writing several features for Philadelphia City Paper, I was asked to pen a geek culture column called Peer-to-Peer. I’m now listed in the masthead as a contributor to the popular alt-weekly. Back to top

January 21, 2010 — One Small Step for Robots

January 7, 2010 — Peer-to-Peer geek column

December 3, 2009 — A Piece of Me

December 3, 2009 — Peer-to-Peer geek column

November 5, 2009 — Peer-to-Peer geek column

October 8, 2009 — Peer-to-Peer geek column

September 10, 2009 — Working-class Heroes

April 9, 2009 — Hall Together Now

Philadelphia Weekly

I spent several months reporting my Thinking Positive cover story about HIV/AIDS activist William Brawner, which you can read below. For it I was awarded a first place award for health and medical reporting by the Society of Professional Journalists in its 2009 Keystone State Pro Chapter Spotlight Contest. Back to top

September 10, 2008 — HIV activist William Brawner speaks out

June 9, 2008 — Q&A With David Carr

Technologicology

Technologicology is a weekly column written for Philebrity.com about the technology scene in Philadelphia. The technology sector has rapidly grown since 2007, giving me the chance to talk to the people involved in some very exciting projects. Philadelphia’s tech scene is seldom covered and has only been recently recognized by mainstream publications, giving me the edge on news, contacts, and savvy. Back to top

June 17, 2008 — The IgnitePhilly Highlight Reel

June 11, 2008 — Special Report: IgnitePhilly, Tonight!

June 10, 2008 — An iPhone Column? Today? Yeah, No Shit.

June 3, 2008 — Where’s Kevin Mitnick When You Need Him?

May 27, 2008 — The Preachy Summer Edition

May 20, 2008 — Special Report: After Yesterday, No One Will Ever Again Wait For SEPTA

May 13, 2008 — When This Whole Social Networking Thing Blows Over, You Won’t Even Be Real

April 22nd, 2008 — McCain Not So Crotchety After All

April 15, 2008 — Clinton’s Technology Plan for Tommorrow, Tooday [Sic]

April 8, 2008 — Obama Is Oh So Web 2.0

April 1, 2008 — Technologicology & Net Neutrality: Two Things You Know Nothing About And Can’t Pronounce

March 25, 2008 — The Portable Technologicology: Are You Sirius? You Have To Be Transmitting Me

March 18, 2008 — Quit Playin’ Games With My iPhone SDK

March 4, 2008 — Technologicology Goes To College: The Silicon Valley Gossip Dissertation

February 26, 2008 — Haven’t Been Macromedia Flashed Like That Since Grade School

February 19, 2008 — The Portable Technologicology

February 12, 2008 — Special Report: Like A Pussy Boyfriend, Earthlink Finally Breaks It Off With Wireless Philadelphia

February 5, 2008 — Open Letter To Comcast

January 29, 2008 — Breakin’ The Chains Of DRM

January 22, 2008 — You Can Dance If You Chiptune, You Can Leave Your Friends Behind

January 15, 2008 — Air To The Throne

January 8, 2008 — Liveblogging The Liveblogs

December 18, 2007 — Proof That Geeks That Make Stuff Are Sexy

December 4, 2007 — There’s No Razr On This Cellular X-Mas List

November 27, 2007 — Amazon Kindle May Have Started The Fire

November 13, 2007 — Is That A Google In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Happy To Cell Me

November 6, 2007 — Technologicology Visits Independents Hall And Doesn’t Turn Into A Long-Haired Hippie

October 30, 2007 — Comcast, Let’s Get To Know Each Other

October 23, 2007 — Looking Outside Tierney’s 4×3 Box

October 15, 2007 — Takin’ It To The Street View

Philadelphia Magazine

While interning at Philadelphia Magazine, I wrote for a variety of department blogs and have since had pieces printed in the magazine. Philly Mag was some of the cleanest copy I’ve ever had to write. While I sometimes felt as if I had to sacrifice my voice, it made my writing tighter and I’m now able to apply the process to my own copy. Back to top

June 2008 — Pulse — 60-Second Critic — The Mogul

May 6, 2008 — Daily Examiner — Philly Grill — Buzz Bissinger

May 2, 2008 — Impresario — Weekender

May 2008 — Pulse — Philadelphia Sweeps Chart

April 7, 2008 — Daily Examiner — Philly Grill — Blondell Reynolds Brown

March 26, 2008 — Impresario — Q&A — Johnny Cash Tribute Band

March 21, 2008 — Impresario — Weekender

February 22, 2008 — Impresario — Weekender

February 22, 2008 — Daily Examiner — End Quote

February 22, 2008 — Daily Examiner — 12:30 Report

February 21, 2008 — Daily Examiner — 2:30 Report

February 21, 2008 — Daily Examiner — End Quote

February 14, 2008 — Impresario — 60-Second Critic — Master & Margarita

February 13, 2008 — Impresario — Hot Tickets

February 12, 2008 — Good Life — V-Day Guide

February 11, 2008 — Impresario — 60-Second Critic — Movies Unlimited Catalog

February 8, 2008 — Impresario — Weekender

Philebrity

As a relative newcomer to Philadelphia, my internship at Philebrity connected me quickly with a city I knew little about. After writing 30+ clips with the online blog, I had a knowledge and understanding on par with any local. The sharp commentary and abrasive critiquing voice at Philebrity forced me to take extra care in writing on-point. Let’s just say that I took research a step further then Wikipedia.
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December 5, 2007 — Neighbourhood Watch

November 26, 2007 — Black Friday

November 26, 2007 — Local News Coverage of Pot Bust

November 26, 2007 — DJ Diplo Featured In Blog

November 14, 2007 — Penn Newspaper Covers Outdated Story

November 7, 2007 — Broad Street Seasonal Lights

November 5, 2007 — Meteorologist Blogger Makes Winter Predictions

October 31, 2007 — Local News Coverage of A Craigslist Prostitution Ring

October 31, 2007 — Democrat Debate at Drexel

October 29, 2007 — Philly Voted Ugliest City; Maxim Says Otherwise

October 24, 2007 — Allen Iverson Sells His House

October 17, 2007 — The Future of Radio

October 8, 2007 — Philly by the Numbers

October 3, 2007 — Atlantic City Mayor Bob Levy Goes Missing

October 1, 2007 — Jerry Seinfeld Interviewed, Offended by Local Reporter

September 26, 2007 — Oscar De La Hoya Cross-dressing in Photos at the Ritz-Carlton

September 12, 2007 — Verizon FiOS Damages AP Reporter’s House

September 12, 2007 — All-You-Can-Eat Tickets Announced at the Wachovia Center

August 27, 2007 — Philly’s New Anti-Violence PSA Mascot

August 21, 2007 — Slow News Day

August 3, 2007 — State Rep Uses Online Forums To Communicate With Voters

August 2, 2007 — Fox Comes Up With Its Own Best Of Philly

July 30, 2007 — Sexual Predators Found On Myspace

July 26, 2007 — PennPraxis Plans Riverfronts

July 24, 2007 — Philly By The Numbers

July 17, 2007 — Cigarette Manufacturers Send Out Reps To Give Away Free Cigarettes

July 16, 2007 — Jersey Proposes Ban On Quick-Release Tires

July 10, 2007 — PA Resident Potential Terrorist

July 5, 2007 — Jeremy Roenick Announces Retirement In Text Message

July 2, 2007 — Love Park To Be Featured In Popular Video Game Series

June 27, 2007 — Non-Profit Provides Summer Camp For Girls Interested In Rock Music

June 25, 2007 — Gay Community Files Suit Against Septa For Gender-Biased Transpass

June 19, 2007 — Restaurant Owner Threatens Anonymous Food Critic With Public Disclosure

June 18, 2007 — Local Bar Closes Temporarily With L&I Notice

Temple News

I got some great clips with the Temple News before attending to other opportunities—internships and freelance work with the publications above. Most of my work was completed for our Arts & Entertainment section, covering topics ranging from performance art to the craft-beer community in Philadelphia. The majority of my energy was spent as a designer for the Temple News. Back to top

September 4, 2007 — Man Forsakes Free Will for Art

April 24, 2007 — Beeradelphia

March 20, 2007 — Lack of Interest Forces CTrax to Tune Out

March 13, 2007 — All Stops for Drinking on the Erin Express

February 6, 2007 — Volunteers Help Area Residents Find H.E.A.T. in Icy Temperatures

Broad & Cecil

This Week’s Missed Connection was a weekly column written for the blog of Temple University’s student newspaper, The Temple News. It was a well-received series that analyzed the phenomena of Craigslist.org’s Missed Connections, a forum on which users could post anonymous, potentially romantic incidents that may have occurred to passersby throughout the city. Back to top

February 7, 2008 — This Week’s Missed Connections

November 30, 2006 — This Week’s Missed Connections

November 26, 2007 — This Week’s Missed Connections

November 2, 2007 — This Week’s Missed Connections

October 25, 2007 — This Week’s Missed Connections

October 11, 2007 — This Week’s Missed Connections

October 4, 2007 — This Week’s Missed Connections

Fourth Estate

As a managing editor at the Harrisburg Area Community College student newspaper, I faced my first large enterprise series: as the school was due for a re-evaluation of accreditation, I was urged by our staff to do our own exhaustive evaluation by terms and conditions our students were familiar with— academic, social and post-education. After more than 25 interviews with students, staff and alumni, a three-part series was written. Back to top

September 13, 2006 — Introductory News Piece — HACC Prepares Itself for Upcoming Middle States Visit

September 13, 2006 — Introductory Editorial

October 13, 2006 — How Good is HACC: Academics — Part 1

October 13, 2006 — How Good is HACC: Academics — Part 2

November 10, 2006 — How Good is HACC: Social

December 8, 2006 — How Good is HACC: Alumni