Melissa Scott Sinclair

 

519 Brook Rd.

Towson, MD 21286

(410)583-1173

girlreporter@hotmail.com

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

Education   I am a 2001 graduate of the University of Delaware with an Honors Degree with Distinction in a self-created major, International and Environmental Journalism.

                        Overall GPA: 3.9/4.0

                        Study abroad experience: France (summer 1993), Martinique                                    (January 1998), Costa Rica (spring 2000)

 

References  

Perry Parks, Chesapeake city editor of The Virginian-Pilot

                                    757-222-5214

Rich Martin, managing editor of The Roanoke Times

                                    1-800-346-1234, ext. 210

 

Ralph Begleiter, Distinguished Journalist in Residence at the

                                    University of Delaware

                                    (302) 831-2687

 

            Dr. Dennis Jackson, journalism professor at the University                                                 of Delaware

                                    (302) 831-8069

 

Journalism

Experience

 

Reporting Intern at The Virginian-Pilot, Chesapeake, Va. (June 11,                                  2001 – September 2001)

        

I am currently interning as a general assignment reporter for The Virginian-Pilot (circulation 200,000; 230,000 on weekends). The Pilot is the leading newspaper of Hampton Roads, one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation. I cover transportation issues, crime, politics and other issues.

 

 

 

 

         Reporting Intern at The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, Va. (June                                5, 2000 – August 20, 2000)

        

I wrote over 40 bylined stories as a reporting intern for the metro and feature desks of southwestern Virginia’s leading newspaper (circulation 100,000; 120,000 on weekends).  Due to the departure of a full-time writer for the county desk, by the end of the summer I had assumed the duties of a beat reporter.  I wrote in-depth stories covering the construction of a 45-mile gas pipeline on private lands, the controversy surrounding a Virginia Tech bear researcher’s trapping methods and the effect of the $50 million Alleghany Foundation on one of Virginia’s poorest regions.  I took the initiative to propose my own story ideas, including a feature on an elder-care home called Ann’s house that was given a front page and double-truck in a Saturday Extra section.

 

 

Features Editor at The Review, University of Delaware, Newark,       Del. (Sept. 1999 - Jan. 1999, Sept. 2000 – Dec. 2000)

        

I assign and edit 8 –10 feature stories per week for the National Pacemaker award-winning independent campus newspaper, which is published twice weekly with a circulation of 12,000.  I also write one to two feature stories per week, as well as news stories.  My responsibilities include meeting four times weekly with managing editors to discuss and refine story ideas, training new reporters, proofing pages, writing headlines and assigning accompanying art and photography. I have worked for The Review since 1998, as staff reporter, student affairs desk editor, foreign correspondent and managing magazine editor.

 

Intern at Mesoamérica, San José, Costa Rica (March 2000 – May 2000)

        

While studying biology and Spanish for a semester at the University of Costa Rica, I interned as staff writer for the journal Mesoamérica, a monthly report of events in Central America. Each month I was assigned a country to cover, read the daily news reports from that country in Spanish and wrote summaries of the major events in English. During this internship I gained a greater interest and understanding of Central American affairs and greatly improved my spoken and written Spanish.

 

Intern at Patuxent Publishing, Towson, MD (June 1999 – Aug. 1999)

        

I wrote eight bylined stories, including a front-page profile of a female bodybuilder and a photo essay on a ballet school, for three regional weekly newspapers with a combined circulation of 71,000: the Owings Mills Times, the Northeast Reporter, and the Northeast Booster. I also assisted with news briefs, community announcements and other editorial duties.

 

 

 

Skills

         Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, Quark and Netscape.

            Trained in proofreading and editing. I can spell accurately and also                        speed-read.

            Good working knowledge of written and spoken French and Spanish.

            SCUBA certified.

 

Honors      

         Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society

            Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

Honorable Mention in the 2000 Associate College Press Feature Story of

                        the Year competition.                    

            Awarded a Dupont Scholarship at the University of Delaware,                                 which provides full tuition and living expenses for four years.

            Named to Dean’s List all four years.

Graduated cum laude from the Bryn Mawr School, Baltimore, Md., June

1997.