Rachael has passion for maps, science fiction, nerdy day trips and great journalism. Born in Houston, raised in New Jersey and educated in Michigan, Rachael faces life and its inherent mysteries with Texas grit, East Coast class and old-fashioned Midwestern work ethic. Called to storytelling and compulsive tree-climbing at a young age, Rachael pursued a career in journalism to appease her wanderlust and document earthen wonders along the way. Now she’s a West Texas drifter who supports herself through her words and tries to stay one step ahead of the law.
GET SOCIAL
East Lansing, Michigan
Master’s Degree: Journalism, Emphasis: Health, Science and Environmental Reporting
Activities: GreatLakesEcho.org, EJ Magazine, EJ Television, Environmental Journalism Association
Huntsville, Texas
Bachelor of Arts, Major: Mass Communication, Minor: Geography
Honors and Activities: The Houstonian, Student Environmental Organization, President’s Climate Commitment Committee
Katy, Texas
High School Diploma
Honors and Activities: The Paw Print, National Honor Society, Girl Scouts of America
Journalism
Investigative Environmental Reporting Geography and Science
Journalism Geography and Science
Click here for a list of relevant coursework:
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY:
Environmental Video Production
Health and Science Writing
Reporting on International Security, Risk and Natural Disasters
Advanced Environmental Writing
Computer-Assisted Reporting
Journalism Internship in Nicaragua
Seminar in Press, Society and the Democratic Process
Health, Science and Environmental Controversies
Geospatial Technology
Environmental Toxicology and SocietySAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY:
Mass Communication and Society
Writing for Mass Media
News Reporting
Advanced Reporting
Mass Media Law and Ethics
Online Journalism
Changing Roles of Mass Media
Global Media Communication
Scriptwriting
Dan Rather Advanced Seminar with former CNN anchor Kelli Arena
Geologic Hazards and Resources & Lab
Environmental Science & Lab
Weather and Climate & Lab
Geography of North America, Africa, Europe, Asia and South America
Cultural Geography
Conservation of Natural Resources
Cultural Anthropology
Environmental History
Geospatial Technology
Geography Field Studies
THE MIDLAND REPORTER-TELEGRAM Local, daily newspaper of Midland, Texas
Copy Editor & Page Designer | June 2012 — Present
• Edit general news, energy and sports stories; paginate various sections
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE Largest daily newspaper in Texas
Freelance Reporter | August 2011 — Present, Business News Intern | May 2008 — August 2008
• Write online and print news and feature stories for the 12 neighborhood sections
• Wrote business news stories and shot footage for online videos
Nonprofit newsroom based at Michigan State University
Graduate Assistant | August 2009-August 2011
• Worked on the following projects and publications:
Great Lakes Echo Reporter for environmental news website of Great Lakes region
• Wrote environmental news, feature and investigative stories
• Created multimedia such as maps and videos; formatted stories for publication
EJ Television Associate producer of ‘Bad Company.’ a documentary examining regional invasive species
• Set up interviews, conduct interviews and update documentary website
EJ Magazine Editor of student-produced environmental magazine
• Assigned and edited stories; managed designers, reporters and editors
• Created new magazine website
The Road to Pearl Lagoon Producer of film project examining globalization along Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast
• Traveled to Nicaragua in July 2010; created print stories and a website
THE HUNTSVILLE ITEM Local, daily newspaper of Huntsville, Texas
Freelance Reporter | June 2007 — May 2009
• Wrote breaking news, feature and business stories; covered Texas executions
• Created and edited artwork for publication; paginated weekend editions and updated the website
Biweekly publication of Sam Houston State University
Editor-in-Chief | Spring 2008, Production Manager | 2008-2009, Various Positions | since 2006
• Managed staff of 10 reporters, photographers and editors, assigned and edited stories and paginated front and campus page
Skills
Proficiencies
Mark of Excellence National Finalist for Best Student Magazine
(Mark of Excellence 1st place Best Student Magazine in Region 4)
Mark of Excellence Regional Finalist for Non-Fiction Magazine Article
(Mark of Excellence 2nd place Non-Fiction Magazine Article in Region 4)
Notable Entry
Rachel Carson Graduate Student of the Year in Environmental Journalism (2011)
Mark of Excellence National Finalist for Online Opinion and Commentary
(Mark of Excellence 1st place Online Opinion and Commentary in Region 4)
Mark of Excellence National Finalist for Online In-Depth Reporting
(Mark of Excellence 1st place Online In-Depth Reporting in Region 4)
1st place News Story
“Premium for Pennies”2nd place Newspaper Op/Ed Design
3rd place Page One Design
3rd place Print News writing (on-site competition)
Honorable Mention Ad Design
2nd place News Feature Story
2nd place Feature Story
3rd place News Story
Mark of Excellence 2nd place Breaking News Reporting (The Houstonian Staff) in Region 8
“SHSU student slain”2nd place Houstonian Staff in Student News, Feature or Sports story
Student of the Year in Journalism (2007 and 2008).
PRINT NEWS
Lake Conroe is full again, but for how long? | Houston Chronicle | April 3, 2012
Lake Houston is full again, but for how long? | Houston Chronicle | April 3, 2012
Trash Bash series | Houston Chronicle | March 2012
Greens Bayou coalition seeks trails, parks, nature areas | Houston Chronicle | March 15, 2012
Catahoula Aquifer may be key to water needs in area | Houston Chronicle | Feb. 23, 2012
eBooks eliminate library fines, losses | The Houston Chronicle | Nov. 22, 2011
Scouts adapt to camps without bonfires | The Houston Chronicle | Nov. 15, 2011
Panama Canal project may affect local roadways | The Houston Chronicle | Nov. 15, 2011
Pearland teens reflect on lessons from night spent in a box | The Houston Chronicle | Nov. 8, 2011
Pumpkin patches feel the pain of a dry summer | The Houston Chronicle | Oct. 25, 2011
Drought could bring fish boom to Lake Conroe | The Houston Chronicle | Oct. 18, 2011
Drought takes a toll on livestock in county | The Houston Chronicle | Sept. 29, 2011
Drought takes a toll on Katy trees | The Houston Chronicle | Sept. 13, 2011
A bright future for LEDs | The Houston Chronicle | Aug. 11, 2008 | PDF
Moneymakers | The Houston Chronicle | July 29, 2008 | PDF
Taxiing toward his second retirement | The Houston Chronicle | June 30, 2008 | PDF
Gas prices forcing shift in vehicle-buying habits | The Houston Chronicle | May 31, 2008 | A1 PDF
More from The Houston Chronicle
Dallas man executed for rape, murder | The Huntsville Item | April 30, 2009
City proceeds with recycling program | The Huntsville Item | March 17, 2009
Huntsville stores report rise in holiday sales | The Huntsville Item | Dec. 3, 2008
Huntsville residents injured in accident | The Huntsville Item | Oct. 31, 2009
ONLINE NEWS
Asian carp push Great Lakes invasion through Minnesota | Great Lakes Echo | Aug. 11, 2011
Poisoning Michigan: Author revisits PBB crisis | Great Lakes Echo | June 4, 2010
Great Lakes states hand out cash for clunker appliances | Great Lakes Echo | Feb. 17,2010
Litter crackdown: states battle trash left by ice anglers | Great Lakes Echo | Feb. 4, 2010
Drought causes lake level drops in Minnesota, Wisconsin | Great Lakes Echo | Nov. 25, 2009
U.S/Canadian examine inconsistent water quality measuring | Great Lakes Echo | Oct. 6, 2009
Study: Winter road salt pollutes Great Lakes streams | Great Lakes Echo | Sept. 29, 2009
Tree rings record Lake Erie water levels, could predict future | Great Lakes Echo | Sept. 23, 2009
ONLINE IN-DEPTH & EXPLANATORY
GREAT LAKES COMPACT | Great Lakes Echo | In 2008, Great Lakes state governors agreed to prevent large-scale water diversions and employ conservation measures. See how states measure up to policy requirements halfway through implementation.
Latest battle for Lake Erie tests agreement to protect Great Lakes | July 11, 2011
Ohio lawmakers approve Great Lakes region’s weakest water rules | June 28, 2011
Great Lakes diversions: Does Illinois catch a break? | June 22, 2011
New York approves Great Lakes water rules; Wisconsin up next | June 17, 2011
BEACH CONFLICT | Great Lakes Echo | With more than 10,000 miles of shoreline, the Great Lakes have the most freshwater access in the world — at least, in theory. There are growing conflicts over who can do what where roads meet the water.
Are beaches public where roads end? | Aug. 3, 2011
Public docks spark conflicts where roads end at water | Aug. 10, 2011
Abandoning access: Townships hand over legal rights to road-ends | Aug. 17, 2010
WATER WAGES | Great Lakes Echo | Many Great Lakes city utilities are setting water rate structures that discourage consumption and encourage conservation. But these rates can be bad for business if set poorly.
Survey shows Great Lakes trend of water rates that encourage conservation | June 10, 2010
Conservation rates: Bad for business? | June 11, 2010
CLEANING COAL | Great Lakes Echo | Burning coal is dirty business. Coal-fired power plants install scrubbers to clean air emissions. But sometimes that means the pollution goes into the water instead of the air. Click here for the entire project.
Cleaning up air could harm quality of water | Dec. 18, 2011
ONLINE BLOGS & FEATURES
Echo catches up with a quick-witted Asian carp | Great Lakes Echo | Aug. 23 2011
See emerald ash borers in action; states still battling the bug | Great Lakes Echo | July 14, 2011
Can you pronounce Great Lakes cities better than a Texan? | Great Lakes Echo | Feb. 21, 2011
Great Lakes SmackDown! | Great Lakes Echo | Oct. 4-Nov. 1, 2010
What’s on your Great Lakes bucket list? | Great Lakes Echo | Oct. 5, 2010
Researchers use planes, lasers to survey Lake Superior | Great Lakes Echo | Aug. 27, 2010
People with Midwest ties make Time’s influential 100 | Great Lakes Echo | May 7, 2010
Michigan officials: Latin name of state tree too sexy for plate | Great Lakes Echo | June 4, 2010
Cool maps of deformed lakes | Great Lakes Echo | March 15, 2010
MAGAZINE
Food School: Children See fruits of partnership with schools | EJ Magazine | Fall 2009
EJ Magazine Spring 2010 | Editor
EJ Magazine Fall 2010 | Editor
EJ Magazine Spring 2011 | Editor
WEBSITE DESIGN
ejtelevision.org
ejmagazine.com
_
PUBLICATION DESIGN
VIDEO
PBS Stations in Great Lakes Region, May 24, 2011 at 8 p.m. — Bad Company (one hour)
EMAIL rachaelkaygleason@gmail.com
CELL
(832) 715-8419