A sample of my photography and video editing skills posted on my personal blog at http://hv-go.blogspot.com. I spent a few hours exploring and photographing Olana, the estate of Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church. Here is the result.
HVC magazine covers. As editorial director, I developed budgets, wrote all non-bylined content, recruited and managed freelance writers, assigned stories and art, edited copy, wrote headlines and cutlines, scouted locations and managed photo shoots. PDF samples of the magazine available by request.
Lead editor/writer for Mise en Place, the alumni magazine for The Culinary Institute of America. I wrote this issue's cover story on the future of foodservice research and development.
I created this Fan Page to complement the site www.HudsonHappenings.com, the blog quadupdates.blogspot.com and special projects developed for the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial celebrations in New York and Vermont. My contributions ended due to the July 9, 2009 work force reduction.
As editorial director of Hudson Valley Connoisseur, my work included the Web site (including SEO) and marketing such as Web 2.0 and live events. I blogged at hudsonvalleygoodlife.blogspot.com and on the companion newspaper's Web site. My contributions ended due to the July 2009 work force reduction.
I created and was the main contributor to this blog and managed the site www.HudsonHappenings.com and special projects for the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial celebrations in New York and Vermont. My contributions ended due to the July 9, 2009 work force reduction.
As Quadricentennial Coverage Coordinator, I managed this site www.HudsonHappenings.com, the blog quadupdates.blogspot.com and special projects developed for the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial celebrations in New York and Vermont.
Created this Fan Page to complement Hudson Valley Connoisseur magazine and its Web site, www.hvcmagazine.com and to draw readers to PoughkeepsieJournal.com. My contributions ended due to the July 9, 2009 work force reduction.
As editorial director of Hudson Valley Connoisseur, my work included the Web site (including SEO) and marketing such as Web 2.0 and live events. (Most content was not parked at the Web site so it could be used elsewhere in the company.)
The Valley Table magazine (11+), Gannett/Poughkeepsie Journal (3-5), The Herb Companion magazine (3-5)
Other Work History
Editorial director, Hudson Valley Connoisseur magazine, February 2006-July 2009. The magazine was stopped and I was let go as part of Gannett's July 2009 work force reduction.
Editor-writer, Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY, 3 years
Managing editor, The Valley Table magazine, Newburgh, NY, 3 years
Freelance writer & editor, 10 years Created and/or edited content for national and regional Web sites and print magazines. Regular columnist. Created and managed www.HudsonValleyGardens.com. Site went on hiatus when I was hired by Gannett. I am now bringing back some of its features at http://hv-go.blogspot.com.
County editor, copy editor, reporter, correspondent at Goodson Newspaper Group, Kingston, NY, 13 years
Computer Skills
HTML, Quark, Adobe, Apple & PC OS
Technical Skills
HTML; Chicago Manual & AP Stylebook; photo editing; Web design; Web 2.0/social networking: Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Blogspot
Equipment
digital camera/video camera, audio recorder, scanner, Mac, PC
Foreign Language Skills
German, French, Spanish. Native speaker of American English.
Work Permits & Visas
US citizen
References
listed here http://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliecoons. Others available by request.
Awards
2009 First place, New York State Associated Press Association Writing Contest, Niche Web Site (for HudsonHappenings.com)
2009 First place, New York State Associated Press Association Writing Contest, Specialty Publications (for Hudson Valley Connoisseur magazine)
2006 Best of Gannett, Non-Daily Content Div. II, (for Hudson Valley Connoisseur magazine)
2002 Cap Creal Journalism Award, The New York State Agricultural Society, (for "A is for Hudson Valley Apples" pub. by the Valley Table magazine)
1994 Distinguished Local Reporting Award of Excellence, New York Newspaper Publishers Association, (for Woodstock '94 coverage)
Associations
Native American Journalists Association
Other
Create audience-appropriate content. Title branding & identity, SEO & creative marketing strategies. Web 2.0 skill set, including Twitter, Facebook and Blogspot. Recruit & manage freelance content creators. Frugal resource management & enterprising repurposing of content across platforms. HTML, social networking, Chicago Manual & AP Stylebook. Experience working with diverse cultures & backgrounds.
Freelancer Availability
Not currently, but interested in pursuing it. I live near New York, NY. I am willing to travel anywhere. I have a driver's license. I have access to a car.
