JENNIFER TORRES SIDERS

COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER, University of the Pacific
September 2011 – Current | Stockton, Calif.

• Lead the development, coordination and execution of Beyond Our Gates, the University’s community-engagement initiative, which encompasses a nationally recognized campaign to improve early literacy. • Forge productive relationships with individuals and groups representing a broad range of racial, ethnic, political and socioeconomic communities.
• Manage communications for the campaign, including the writing, editing, graphic design and packaging of digital and print materials.
• Oversee planning and budgeting for events that bring national-level perspective to critical local issues.

FREELANCE WRITER AND EDITOR
January 2011 – Current | Stockton, Calif.

• Research and report feature stories – and contribute photos – on topics including immigration, culture, parenting, health, food and fashion for local, regional and national magazines and newspapers.
• Provide copy writing and editing services, grant writing, and media relations consultation and training for nonprofit organizations, public agencies and businesses.
• Plan and lead workshops for journalism students on feature writing, source development and other key topics.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES/DEMOGRAPHICS REPORTER, The Record
June 2004 – August 2011 | Stockton, Calif.

• Covered breaking news and developed enterprise stories on immigration, poverty and other issues in one of the state’s fastest-growing and most diverse counties.
• Combined extensive research and interviews with reluctant, Spanish-speaking sources to produce an award-winning series on migrant workers.
• Oversaw coverage and led newsroom trainings on Census data.
• Selected to participate on newspaper committees that introduced alternative story formats and bolstered multimedia storytelling.
• Filled in as an assistant city editor as needed.
• Promoted from lead education reporter, a position in which public-records reporting resulted in state and national journalism awards.

ASSISTANT EDITOR, James Publishing
2004 | Costa Mesa, Calif.

• Assigned, copy edited and fact-checked stories and columns on technology-related issues relevant to the legal industry for a trade magazines Law Office Computing and Legal Assistant Today.
• Assisted with page layout and design.

INTERN REPORTER, Kenosha News
June – August 2001 |Kenosha, Wis.

• Reported on changes in a Midwestern agricultural community with a new and growing Latino population and shrinking number of young professionals.
• With minimal direction, filed one to two stories daily on general assignment.

INTERN REPORTER, The Orange County Register
January – March 2001 | Santa Ana, Calif.

• Using public documents, investigated questionable use of electronic highway signs by toll road agency.
• Completed rotations on breaking news, local, features and copy-editing teams.

FEATURES INTERN, The Press-Enterprise
June – August 2000 | Riverside, Calif.

• Developed and executed stories on religion, minorities in media, entertainers and other topics.
• Worked with artists and designers on special projects.

EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER (London): M.A. Journalism, with merit.
Thesis: “California’s Spanish-language press: What La Prensa tells its readers about U.S. politics.” Maintained at the University of Westminster Library
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, Medill School of Journalism: B.S. Journalism
Minor: English

SKILLS
• Language Spanish
• Computer: Adobe Create Suite, including Photoshop and InDesign; WordPress and other content-management systems; working knowledge of CSS and HTML; SoundSlides, Garage Band and other multimedia tools; Excel, Lexis-Nexis and other research and computer-assisted reporting tools.
• Specialized Knowledge: Media and First Amendment law and ethics; photography

AWARDS
• ATHENA: Young Professional Leadership Award recipient for 2012
• Lee & Low: New Voices Award for children’s writing in 2011
• California Newspaper Publishers Association: Second place for education and youth reporting in 2010; first place for investigative/enterprise reporting in 2008; part of second-place winning team for local spot news in 2005
• Associated Press: Second-place for feature writing in 2008
• Action on Behalf of Children Award: Honored in media category in 2007
• Casey Journalism Center: Runner-up in series category in 2007
• Education Writers Association: Special citations in 2006 and 2007

COMMUNITY
• El Concilio, Council for the Spanish Speaking
Member of the Board for the Stockton-based organization that provides a range of social services – from educational programs and immigration assistance, to financial counseling and welfare-to-work case management – to individuals throughout the San Joaquin Valley.
• San Joaquin A+
Member of the Board for the nonprofit organization that supports and enhances education in San Joaquin County by promoting collaboration among education, nonprofit and business organizations.
• YMCA of San Joaquin County
Member of the Board of directors and Chair of the Marketing Committee for the nonprofit organization that provides development, enrichment and recreational opportunities to children in San Joaquin County.
• University Neighborhood Renaissance Committee
Serve as University of the Pacific’s representative on the committee that meets regularly to strengthen community relationships and address concerns within the Central Stockton University neighborhood.
• High School Journalism Awards, 2008-2011
Launched, organized and managed The Record newspaper’s annual contest honoring the work of outstanding high school journalists.