Professional experience
Editor, Oregon Business, June 2021 – present
I assign, edit and fact-check copy for an award-winning regional business monthly, as well as contributing news stories (including breaking news pieces and enterprise features) to the magazine and website. I work closely with a combination of freelance and staff writers to ensure copy is clean, accurate and on time — and I work with the visual team to make sure the stories look great, too.
Freelance writer and editor, Feb. 2006 – June 2021
I wrote news and tech articles, marketing copy and essays, juggling multiple clients and deadlines. My clients included Street Roots, Willamette Week and Oregon Arts Watch. I’ve also written for Pacific Standard, B-word Media, Know Your City, The Oregonian, The Portland Mercury and Rewire (then RH Reality Check). In June 2020 I co-edited Willamette Week’s Finder BIPOC Business Guide, a directory of BIPOC-owned businesses throughout the Portland metro area.
Defense and weekend news reporter, UPI, Nov. 2019 – June 2021
I wrote three to five stories per day on the defense industry and military for UPI. Frequent topics included Pentagon contracts, military policy changes and defense industry news. I also cover the breaking news desk on Saturdays, writing multiple quick-hit stories per shift.
News editor, The Skanner News, May 2015 – Oct. 2019
I assigned and edited news and entertainment coverage by staff and freelancers, curated wire and local stories and wrote one to two news stories per week, shot and edited photos and video, updated the website (Joomla-based CMS), managed social media accounts and produced six special-edition tabloids per year. I also assisted with the planning and execution of events, including The Skanner Foundation’s annual fundraising breakfast and screenings of The Wake of Vanport documentary series.
Editorial intern, Key Publishing Group, Nov. 2014 – March 2015
I reviewed and addressed editorial and formatting problems in site archives, tracked press coverage of the company’s trade shows and proofread and edited new content.
Reporter, The Lund Report, Oct. 2009 – April 2014
I covered health care policy, with focuses on public health, Oregon’s Medicaid transition and patient stories. I was also responsible for updating thelundreport.org, sending out weekly e-mail newsletters and managing social media accounts.
Public relations representative, Tripwire, Inc., Jan. 2008 – Jan. 2009
I wrote press releases, coordinated meetings with B2B and local press as well as industry analysts, wrote the company’s first social media plan and coordinated content for a virtualization security blog.
Recycling and community outreach coordinator, Free Geek, Inc., Portland, Ore. June 2005 – Feb. 2006
I helped create a press kit and public relations strategy for a computer reuse and recycling nonprofit, on top of supervising warehouse operations, training and managing volunteers and negotiating pickup and sales with scrap vendors.
Lifestyles editor and general assignment reporter, Argus Observer, Ontario, Ore. Sept. 2003 – May 2005
I wrote stories, took photos, did layout and design and executed special edition tabloids, covering arts and entertainment as well as crime and city government.
Editorial intern, Daily Courier, Grants Pass, Ore. Summer 2003
I wrote four to five stories per week covering vacationing reporters’ beats.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2013 Winner, Best Feature (for “A Level Playing Board,” Chess Life, July 2013), awarded by Chess Journalists of America
2012 Second Place Award for Comprehensive Coverage (for Lund Report series on lead poisoning), awarded by Oregon Society of Professional Journalists
2003 General Excellence Award, Argus Observer staff, awarded by Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2002 General Excellence Award, Barometer staff, awarded by Oregon Newspaper Association
2000 Best Collegiate Editorial Writing Award, Barometer editorial board, awarded by Society of Professional Journalists
EDUCATION
Bachelor of arts in English (with coursework in copy editing, reporting, digital photography and creative writing), Oregon State University, 2006.
Recipient, Jim Poore Scholarship, Pepsi Scholarship, OSU Provost’s Scholarship.
Attended Michael Smart’s PR Power Writing and Pitching Workshops, June 2008.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Board secretary, Oregon Society of Professional Journalists, Oct. 2014 – Oct. 2017.
References available upon request.
Christen McCurdy 