Leah Polakoff

Forest Hill, MD USA
Website: http://www.leahpolakoff.com
Contact

Professional Experience

A versatile features reporter with background in life and style magazines, newspapers and multimedia production. I have covered everything from the ever-growing issue of homosexuality in Cuba to the latest fashion and beauty trends. A former magazine editor and newspaper reporter, I am prepared to cover anything in almost any format, be it written, photography or video. I am well-versed in the area of health and fitness, as I am also a group fitness instructor. To view my work, please visit www.leahpolakoff.com.

Expertise

Editor
2 Years
Reporter
3 Years
Writer
4 Years

Specialty

Lifestyle
4 Years
Fitness
4 Years
Health
4 Years

Industries


Newspaper - National
Entry Level
Newspaper - Local/Regional
3 Years
Magazine - Local/Regional magazines
4 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

4 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

The Patriot-News/PennLive (10+), Valley Magazine (10+), The Washington Post (1-2), The Baltimore Sun Media Group (10+), State College Magazine (10+), Lake Erie Lifestyle (1-2), The Centre Daily Times (6-10)

Technical Skills

Photoshop, Adobe Premiere

Computer Skills

Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Calendars, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Equipment

Macbook Pro, Nikon D7100, Shotgun microphone

References

Name: Tony Barbieri, Foster Professor in Writing and Editing at Penn State University. Contact Information: 814-863-2682, afb15@psu.edu Name: Richard Abowitz, editor of The Smart Set at Drexel University. Contact Information: 702-496-9947, rabowitz@drexel.edu Name: Will Yurman, Senior Lecturer of Journalism at Penn State University. Contact Information: 814-470-5895, why1@psu.edu

Awards

William Randolph Hearst Journalism Awards, 13th place, enterprise multimedia reporting, 2015 Television Academy Foundation Awards, 1st place, Outstanding Magazine Show, 2015 Randy and Maria Yanoshak Technology in Media Award, winner, 2015 Ralph Flamminio Memorial Scholarship by the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors, winner, 2014 Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Award, regional winner, 2014 Katey Lehman Award for Journalism/Creative Non-Fiction, second place winner, 2014 William Randolph Hearst Foundation Journalism Awards, second place, intercollegiate writing team, 2014

Associations

Penn State Alumni Association

Showcase

General

Castro's daughter and the fight for gay rights in Cuba
(The Lion's Roar 5/13/2014)
In 2014, I was one of 16 students selected to travel as part of an advanced international reporting class. I reported on the culture of homosexuality in a communist country.
Taylor Swift's business philosophy in Taylor Swift's opinion
(PennLive.com 7/9/2014)
While I love Taylor Swift, when she wrote an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal I had to poke some fun.
Heavy on the Heart: Nancy Bowser's Weight Loss Journey
(ComMedia/Penn State College of Communications 12/11/2014)
The result of a class project, here I share the weight-loss story of Nancy Bowser. Over the past 14 years, Bowser has lost 172 lbs. I documented her success with a video, a written story and an audio timeline.
Boy gets real 'bionic arm' with Robert Downey Jr. thrown in
(The Washington Post 3/13/2015)
I joined the Washington Post's Morning Mix staff for an evening in March and interviewed the members of Limbitless, the team that created an Ironman-like arm for a boy.
Kayla Nakonechni: The Girl Behind the Cancer
(Valley Magazine 11/10/2014)
This was the cover story I wrote while editor-in-chief of Valley Magazine, Penn State's only life and style magazine.
Weighing In: Why not spin?
(Valley Magazine 11/27/2012)
In 2012, I co-created Valley Magazines first and only health column called "Weighing In." Here's a post I wrote about the benefits of cycling.
How Old Do You Feel?
(Our Gray Matters 5/5/2015)
When asked to produce a story on the aging population of Centre County, I decided to do something a little different. I talked to dozens of senior citizens about how old they are versus how old they actually feel. It turns out, age really is just a number.