James Burnett

Boston, MA USA

Professional Experience

In my "day job," I'm a PR and social media director. I'm also a former journalist who spent 16 years writing and editing for major newspapers, authoring popular news & culture blogs, and contributing on-air reports & commentary to broadcast networks. As a reporter I wrote about public education and public policy, culture & lifestyle trends, public safety, health and wellness, personal finance, business development, and tech trends.

Total Media Industry Experience

17 Years

Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

International Concierge Associate (3-5), Red Door Hospitality (3-5)

Other Work History

Director of PR & Social Media (traditional PR, writing/editing, research) - The Boston Foundation - current. Staff reporter (Culture/Lifestyles, Government, Biz Development), 3.7 years - The Boston Globe. Columnist, Staff Reporter, Contributing Editor (Culture/Lifestyle, Government, Courts, Entertainment Industry), 6 years - The Miami Herald. Staff Reporter, Editor, Seasonal Asst. Style/Fashion Editor (Education, Government, Public Safety, Pop Culture Trends, Urban Living), 7 years - The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Independent Public Relations and Editorial Consultant - July 2010 - Current: Have advised small businesses, solo/unaffiliated attorneys, and religious-themed organizations on news and social media and biz promo strategy. Advisory work includes research, proofreading and copy editing, writing press releases, writing and editing news letters and general and Web content, writing white papers, and building and/or maintaining social media presence for clients.

Technical Skills

Web Design, Audio and Video Editing.

Computer Skills

Microsoft Office Suite, OS 10 and other Windows operating systems, Yosemite and other Apple/Mac operating systems, CisionPoint.

Equipment

Laptop, Audio & Video Recorders, DSLR Camera.

References

Contact information for all references will be provided upon request. Travis Talbot, celebrity chef, restaurant developer, and hospitality consultant. Anise Vance, nationally renowned data and research expert, writing and editing collaborator. Andrew Ritzer, nationally renowned hospitality, hotel, and concierge consultant, convention/conference planner.

Awards

Shared awards: 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News (while a staff writer at the Boston Globe, for contributions to coverage of the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. Shared Award: 2007 Sunshine State Journalism Award (for contributions to reporting package on youth violent crime trends). Shared Award: 2004 National Headliner Award (for contributions to news series on urban segregation and the municipal court system in Milwaukee, WI).

General

"Grimy broken clock turns out to be rare gem"
(The Boston Globe 4/25/2014)
A fun peek at the mystery behind the origins of a valuable, rare old clock that for decades gathered dust and was ignored, as it sat broken in the back of a downtown Boston jewelry store.
"How young is too young for a cell phone"
(The Boston Globe 7/8/2012)
An analysis of the ongoing parental and technology debate over when and whether it's safe to allow children to have cell phones.
"Marcus Burke's Crossover"
(The Boston Globe 6/10/2014)
A profile of author Marcus Burke and his improbable rise from aimlessness on the streets of Boston to being a college professor and highly sought after author. Why improbable? At one time, Burke was expected to have a shot at an NBA career.
Press Release: End of year fiscal standing
(The Boston Foundation 7/20/2015)
A traditional press release to Massachusetts & DC-based media outlets announcing the end-of-fiscal-year financial and fundraising standings of the Boston Foundation. The release resulted in a business section article in The Boston Globe, the largest daily newspaper in New England.
"Brooke Charter Schools wins second annual Pozen Prize for Charter Schools"
(The Boston Foundation 5/12/2015)
A traditional press release to Massachusetts and national news outlets announcing the latest performance winner of an annual charter school competition. The release resulted in stories in two local newspapers and two education news-themed blogs.
(The Boston Foundation 5/12/2015)