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Carla Jean Whitley
cjATcarlajeanwhitleyDOTcom
Experience
Birmingham magazine Birmingham, Ala.
December 2006–Present
Managing editor
- Led the staff in becoming finalists for City and Regional Magazine Association’s 2012 General Excellence award
- Collaborated with a team on “We Make Birmingham,” a finalist for CRMA’s 2011 Feature Design award
- Plan monthly editorial content, podcasts and web features for monthly magazine averaging 160 pages
- Hire, manage and edit a team of freelance writers, with an annual editorial budget of $35,000
- Hire and manage day-to-day activities of editorial interns
- Manage and write for Birmingham Box Set music blog, featuring interviews, reviews and news
- Write feature, art, music, food, homes, events, small business and travel stories
- Maintain partnerships with Birmingham Mountain Radio, FOX6 and other media entities
Associate editor
- Produced and wrote 10 stories each month
- Produced annual summer reading package, including a book excerpt, author interview and book reviews
- Led editorial staff in developing an in-house style guide
University of Alabama Department of Journalism Tuscaloosa, Ala.
January 2012–Present
- Teach JN311 News Writing and Reporting writing lab
Various publications, freelance writer
March 2004–Present
- BookPage: Write book reviews and features for monthly national book review, circulation 45,000
- UAB Medicine magazine: Wrote feature stories about medical students and professors
- Alabama Alumni Magazine: Wrote profiles of a dance workshop founder and a Kenyan school director
- Relevantmagazine.com and Relevant magazine: Wrote dating column, reviewed CDs, concerts and books
The Birmingham News Birmingham, Ala.
June–November 2006
Reporter
- Reported on government activity and community events in four municipalities for Alabama’s largest paper
The Cullman Times Cullman, Ala.
December 2005–June 2006
Lifestyle editor
- Planned, wrote and designed twice-weekly feature section, weekly religion page and frequent special sections
The Tuscaloosa News Tuscaloosa, Ala.
May–November 2005
Copy editor and designer
- Edited local copy for style
- Designed local news and feature sections while determining placement of and selecting wire stories
Staff writer
Wrote centerpiece and secondary health and religion stories, plus breaking news stories
Professional activities and awards
Alabama Alumni Publications Advisory Committee member, 2012-present
Guest speaker, various university and high school journalism classes, 2010-present
Guest speaker, “Freelancing 101,” See Jane Write women’s writing organization, May 15, 2012
Young Women’s Empowerment Conference mentor, 2012
Samford University High School Journalism Workshop speaker, “Magazine Journalism,” 2010 and 2011
Alabama Scholastic Press Association Long Weekend speaker, “Storytelling in Journalism and Beyond,” June 2011
Guest speaker, “Feature Writing,” Alabama Scholastic Press Association State Convention, February 2011
Guest speaker, University of Alabama at Birmingham career course, October 2010
Birmingham Recruiters Network speaker, “A City Guide for Newcomers — And You, Too!” June 2010
Southern Christian Writers Conference speaker, “Writing for City and Regional Magazines,” June 2010
Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards judge, 2010
Mountain BrookJunior High School, writing competition judge, 2010
Visiting professional, University of Alabama’s Multicultural Journalism Workshop, 2009
DCH Credit Union planning session speaker, “Social Media and Your Business,” September 2009
Recipient of Lilly Scholarship from the Religion Newswriters Association, 2005
First place in journalism history, Southeastern Journalism Conference, 2004
Presented “Characteristics of American Journalists and the Journalism Field, 1900-1909” at the 2004 American Journalism Historians Association Southeast Symposium
Education
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Ala. 2003-2004
Master of arts in journalism
Master’s project: A series of articles on independent musicians, published in part in the Huntsville Times
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Fla. 1999-2002
Bachelor of science in communication
Community activities
Birmingham Public Library Young Professional Board member, 2012-present
Desert Island Supply Company writing center, volunteer and board member, 2010-present
Friends of Emmet O’Neal Library, 2009-present
Better Basics’ Motivators of Reading Enrichment, volunteer, 2006-2012
Paint the Town Red, Birmingham chapter of American Red Cross fundraiser, entertainment chair, 2010
