Emma Zayer

I woke up sick the morning after Commencement on the National Mall. Thankfully, this was after the eight-hour family drive from D.C. to New York and after unloading all my dorm stuff into our garage. Coughing, sore throat, fever, losing my voice...bleh, the worst illness I've had in a while. But it's a virus so there's been little to do other than rest, drink plenty of fluids and treat the symptoms. And as much as it sucks to be sick, the timing couldn't have been better. I push myself very hard on a regular basis and think some R&R was long overdue. It's been nice to rest.

On a much more upbeat note, I got some fantastic news a few days ago --- I was named one of the top 100 college journalists in the country by UWire, a cooperative media service for college news publications. Basically, they compile the best college articles and offer them to be redistributed to other college newspapers, the way you might see an Associated Press piece reprinted in a newspaper.

I was nominated by some of my collegiate colleagues a few months ago, when UWire first put out the open-call for nominations for the most talented college journalists. After getting notification that I'd been nominated, I built a profile on the UWire site by submitting my stories, a bio, and a resume. A few weeks ago I was told I was among the 350 or so finalists, and was asked to suggest a couple of people who could comment on me as a journalist. There was a lot of 'let's see what happens...' And finally...getting that email that I was on the list was fantastic!

Seeing my page on the UWire 100 is awesome. It's great to feel like four years of hard work really paid off, to be recognized for my contributions as a student journalist and to be praised by my peers and friends. Thanks so much to everyone who helped make it happen. It was a great way to top off graduation and hopefully a sign of more wonderful things to come.

P.S. I am feeling much better physically too!

I graduated from college this weekend. Wow, where did four years go?


















I'm the little head looking straight at the camera, lol.

I've just closed one chapter in my life, so it seems like a fitting time to begin another on this blog. Four hours ago I sent in the last final project of my undergraduate college career. (...As long as nothing goes batty and forces me to redo an assignment!)

Cheers to all the new adventures that lie ahead.

-Emma

Skills
AP Style, Microsoft Office, Lexis Nexis, basic: Html, Final Cut Pro, Dreamweaver, Flash, Audacity
Languages: Intermediate proficiency in Spanish and Russian

Professional Experience

Staff Writer -- The Beacon Newspapers, award-winning newspaper geared toward people 50 and over in the Washington D.C. metro-area, Kensington, Md., August 2008 - July 2009.

Editor in Chief – The Daily Colonial, award-winning online newspaper, Washington D.C., Dec. 2006 – May 2008
--Named one of the top 100 college journalists in the country by UWire (2008)
--Led paper to its first national award: 2007 Online Pacemaker from the Associated Collegiate Press
--Founding Arts Editor for The George Washington University’s only daily newspaper (2004-2006)
--Managed and edited staff; taught writing style/ethical codes
--Engaged in original reporting; developed story ideas; wrote headlines and summaries
--Posted articles to website using Html; created podcasts

Executive Assistant – Marvin Kalb, journalist and professor emeritus with Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Washington D.C., Sept. 2007 – May 2008
--Conducted research for The Kalb Report television series and for Professor Kalb’s upcoming book
--Completed administrative tasks, including keeping financial records and scheduling

Writer – Where I Stand.com, Inc., blogging and research community, NYC, July – Oct. 2007
--Wrote articles; researched public figures’ stands on political and social issues

Assistant – Jacob Abramson Productions, event production company, NYC, June – Aug. 2007
--Helped prepare for events; organized financial records

Reporter/Production Assistant – The Source, Washington D.C., Jan. 2007 – May 2007
--Wrote scripts for college television program; edited news packages; appeared on-air.

PR Intern – PBS’ Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, Washington D.C., July – Dec. 2006
--Wrote content for the show’s website; put together publicity materials

Copy Editor, Assistant to the Director of Development – Woodrow Wilson House, Washington D.C., July – Dec. 2006
--Copy-edited museum accreditation forms; completed administrative tasks

Screenwriter – Under Construction Productions, Inc., Washington D.C., May 2006 – 2007
--Produced “Happenstance,” a fictional short film about a Holocaust survivor’s encounter with a neo-Nazi

Editor – Wooden Teeth, literary arts magazine, Washington D.C., 2004 – 2005

Education
The George Washington University, School of Media and Public Affairs, Class of 2008
Washington, D.C., 2004 - 2008
Major: Journalism
Minor: Russian Language and Literature
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Dean’s List: 2004 – 2005, 2007 - 2008
Nominated for Larry King Prize in Journalism
Member of Omicron Delta Kappa, national leadership honor society

Activities
Tap Dancer – Tap Tap Revolution, Washington D.C., 2005 – 2006; and Ella Marie School of Dance, Hicksville N.Y., 1989 – 2004.