Desiree French

Washington, DC USA
Contact

Professional Experience

Seeking a veteran reporter or public relations writer? Look no further. I create feature articles, profiles, speeches, Web content, you name it. My forte: business, real estate, community development, lifestyle issues, and arts and culture.

Expertise

Researcher
3 Years
Writer
25 Years
Reporter
17 Years

Specialty

Lifestyle
3 Years
Business (general)
13 Years
Real Estate
12 Years

Industries


Newspaper - National
4 Years
Newspaper - Local/Regional
7 Years
Magazine - Trade magazines/publications (B2B)
5 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

25 Years

Other Work History

Previous freelance assignments for Urban Land magazine, RISMedia, the National Association of Realtors, the Aspen Institute, and Countrywide Financial Corp. Also co-authored a book commissioned by the Urban Land Institute. In addition to full-time positions as a reporter, worked as a senior manager of public affairs, communications manager, chief speechwriter, and speechwriting manager.

Foreign Language Skills

Spanish (novice)

Computer Skills

Word, PowerPoint

Equipment

Laptop, Printer, Smart Phone

References

Liz Giovaniello, National Association of Realtors, LGiovaniello@realtors.org; Linda Johnson, CenturyLink, Linda.M.Johnson@CenturyLink.com; Maria Patterson, RISMedia, maria@rismedia.com

Awards

New England Associated Press News Editor Association Spot News Award; Postal Service Opportunity, Dare to Soar and Team Awards

Associations

Washington Speechwriters Roundtable, Public Relations Society of America

Showcase

General

Several press releases written from May 2008-August 2013 while a full-time writer and communications director with the Downtown DC Business Improvement District
Three "Community Builder" profiles of developers or others who have made a difference transforming communities. These articles were published in September 2004 - July 2006.
A speech prepared for the president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for delivery to the Detroit Economic Club.