Writing
In my Sports Journalism class, I exclusively reported on the 2022 Opening Day Chicago Cubs game versus their rival, Milwaukee Brewers. My angle explored Cubs-lifers’ sentimental connection to the historic Wrigley Field. My interviews in the frigid rain unveiled that Wrigley Field lore is like a gene passed down through many generations.
In my Advertising and Copywriting class, I was challenged to write and present a 30-second audio script to grasp the attention of those listening to a Spotify podcast. Using jarring sound effects, I recreated the sonic sensation of a married couple’s home being burglarized by bugs. The script: ‘When Bugs Break Into Your Home,’ championed Orkin as the best security system against unwanted pests.
For my Online Reporting final project, I was challenged to deliver a long-form editorial about a Chicagoland development. The possibility of a Chicago Bears relocation from Soldier Field to the recently sold Arlington Park property prompted me to interview local government officials, informed businessmen, and devoted fans about their hopes and thoughts. Lo and behold, the groundbreaking relocation came to fruition three months after I got the scoop.
Multimedia
In my Account Leadership class, I was asked to pitch a mock strategic campaign presentation to assist my client, Vuori, in solving their core business problem. I found that nearly half of people give up on their fitness-related New Year’s resolutions after one month. I explored a ‘Vuori Happy New Year’ campaign to help the luxury athleisure company challenge Lululemon and encourage devotion to fitness resolutions.
In my Account Leadership class, I was tasked to present a mock crisis communication recommendation to Victoria’s Secret in the wake of a public scandal. When singer-songwriter, Jax, released ‘Victoria’s Secret,’ an anthem linking the iconic women’s lingerie brand to girls’ negative body image and eating disorders, VS chose a route that significantly damaged their storied legacy and revenue. I recommended that VS adjust and own its mistake while acknowledging its progress and historical accomplishments in revising the CEO apology letter and devising a new campaign: 'There’s A Little Victoria In All of Us.’
I was asked to cover a live event using multimedia reporting skills in my Online Reporting class. I thought outside the box and documented my experience visiting the Skokie Holocaust Museum. I interviewed an actual Holocaust survivor through a unique hologram technology and, most importantly, became more educated on the consequences and human suffering caused by the Third Reich’s dictatorial and fascist regime.
Research
I scoured the financial report archives of five major Chicago-based parks and museums dating back to 2018 when my group was asked to discover competitive advantages in a mock campaign to increase foot traffic to the Shedd Aquarium in my Advertising Foundations class. I found that Shedd Aquarium’s expenses and prices received the most criticism from customer reviews and that to attract our target demographic, we needed to explore a strategy that highlighted Shedd’s kid-friendly amenities.
I curated three months’ worth of investigative journalism on a growing collegiate sports recruiting technology company, AgDiago, for my final Journalism Capstone project. I interviewed three major executives at the startup and discovered the central infrastructure of the company that used multiple choice quizzes to aid prominent coaches and clients in measuring the aptitude and character traits of prospective recruits and rostered athletes.
In my graduate Data, Research, and Insights class, my team, Code Green, conducted two separate data sets to research a change in Twitter’s policy allowing for cannabis advertising on its platform. My team and I compiled a data analysis of 12 years of conversations on Twitter about pot using Brandwatch. Then, we operated a content analysis of U.S. dispensaries that use Twitter for advertising. We finalized our research by recording experimental limitations and plans for future research.