Jessica Durkin

B.S., Communications-Journalism
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA

The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA
Staff Writer
2007-2009
As the Dunmore and North Pocono regional reporter, covered the construction of a controversial new high school in the North Pocono School District and the resignation of the Dunmore Borough manager.
Later assigned to the night police beat and wrote breaking crime and fire news in Scranton and around Lackawanna County.

Norwich Bulletin, Norwich, CT
Staff Writer
2004-2007
Regional reporter for five Northeastern Connecticut municipalities. Wrote daily news, feature and trend stories.
Tracked issues closely, providing follow-up stories as needed. Wrote multiple stories about controversial change to a town clerk’s accounting system.
Covered breaking news, including major crime stories.
Followed tribal affairs of the Mohegan Indian and Mashantucket Pequot tribal nations and their respective casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Portland Press-Herald, Portland, ME
Staff Writer, Minority Intern
Summer 2004
General assignment reporter for 70,000 circulation daily newspaper in southern Maine. Wrote police, city government and human interest stories.

Cal Poly Pomona Alumni Affairs, Pomona, CA
Staff Writer Intern
2003
Helped conceptualize and launch monthly online alumni newsletter Poly@lumni.
Contributed stories and story ideas to university print publications PolyTrends and Panorama.

Other
Shared a Best of Gannett award at the Norwich Bulletin with a team that covered the story of the first person to be executed on Connecticut’s death row in 45 years. 2005.
First- and Third-place awards for Best Special Section, College Weekly, from the California Intercollegiate Press Association while on the campus university newspaper staff for my editorship of two special sections. 2003.
Third Place, Best Investigative News, College Weekly, from the California Intercollegiate Press Association for story about a pornographic video illegally shot on campus. 2003.
Social media groups: Maintain Facebook, Myspace and Twitter accounts.

Skills
Internet research, Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Adobe InCopy writing program.
University of Scranton continuing education certification in Web Design – introductory knowledge of Adobe Flash, Dreamweaver software and HTML.