Professional Experience
I'm an experienced freelance writer and editor, specializing in arts and lifestyle features, travel pieces, political coverage, and corporate communications. I've contributed to major newspapers (LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Austin American-Statesman), national magazines (Spin, Air & Space, Historic Traveler), and top travel websites like Fodors.com. Profiles and interviews of notable folk are a specialty (I've spoken with many household-name-level celebrities; some of these pieces are among my work samples). I'm also an experienced researcher, copy editor, and proofreader. My current home in Austin follows previous lives in New York, Boston, and Ljubljana, Slovenia. While in Ljubljana, I originated the first blog, to my knowledge, created in Slovenia by a non-native of that country. I've been actively blogging ever since. I welcome meaningful opportunities which would allow me to showcase my proven abilities, wealth of knowledge, and unique style as a communicator and content provider.
Expertise
- Reporter 30 Years
- Copy Editor 8 Years
- Writer 30 Years
Specialty
- Food 15 Years
- Entertainment 25 Years
- Travel 20 Years
Industries
- Newspaper - Local/Regional 15 Years
- Magazine - Large Consumer/National magazines 12 Years
- Pr/marketing - all 12 Years
Media Client List (# Assignments Last 2 Yrs)
- Austin American-Statesman(10+)
- Fodors Travel Guides(1-2)
- Chicago Tribune(1-2)
- Los Angeles Times(1-2)
- Spin Magazine(6-10)
- Boston Phoenix(10+)
- Village Voice(1-2)
- The Meeting Professional (MPI)(6-10)
- Austin Monthly(3-5)
Corporate Client List (# Assignments Last 2 Yrs)
- MAXIMUS, Inc.(1-2)
- Pearson(3-5)
- Affinity Properties(1-2)
Other work history
Co-founder and partner, Wordbucket Marketing Communications, 2003 - present.
Foreign Language Skills
Intermediate Slovene; basic Croatian, German, Italian and French.
Computer skills
Mac, PC and Internet literate. Basic HTML. Familiar with Wordpress, Blogger platforms, the usual smartphone apps.
Equipment
Laptop, iPad, camera
Work permits & visas
I'm a US citizen with a passport.
References
See my LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/wes-eichenwald-489a711/
Awards
First place, Division 1, Arts & Entertainment Feature, Society for Features Journalism, 2019 Excellence-in-Features Awards. Honorable Mention, Cultural Tourism category, 2019 Lowell Thomas Awards, Society of American Travel Writers.
General
Moontower of babble: Reflections on the music of comedy
(Austin American-Statesman 4/25/2017)
Summary/think piece describing my attending various performances during the 2017 Moontower Comedy Festival in Austin, Texas.
Melissa Etheridge’s current mood: ‘I’m going to do my job this year’
(Austin American-Statesman 6/22/2017)
Interview with musician Melissa Etheridge.
Where Life is Still a Cabaret in Manhattan
(Austin American-Statesman 8/23/2018)
A close-up look at the world of New York cabarets and piano bars, and the performers who work there. This article won First Place, Division 1, Arts & Entertainment Feature, in the Society for Features Journalism's 2019 Excellence-in-Features Awards, and an honorable mention in the Cultural Tourism category in the 2019 Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers.
Tapped Out: Celis Brewery
(Austin Monthly 9/30/2019)
Feature article examining the complex history of the Celis Brewery in Austin, Texas, including an exclusive interview with the owner.
Creative bartender helps stir the cocktail revival in Austin
(Austin American-Statesman/austin360.com 4/27/2010)
Interview with bartender and creative mixologist Mindy Kucan, including three of her drink recipes.
The Austin Opera Updates 'A Masked Ball'
(Austin Way 10/27/2014)
Preview of upcoming production at Austin Opera, including interview with projection designer Wendall Harrington.
Roger McGuinn guides Austin audience through a six-decade musical journey
(Austin American-Statesman/austin360.com 9/25/2017)
Review of Roger McGuinn concert in Austin, published on the Statesman's music blog.
Kraftwerk: Back to yesterday’s future, once more with (robotic) feeling
(Austin American-Statesman 9/24/2015)
Article for Music section on the influential German band Kraftwerk, including an interview with co-founder and leader Ralf Hütter.
Star Man: Talking with Neil deGrasse Tyson, the ultimate big-picture guy, about life, the universe, and everything (including what he learned at UT)
(Austin American-Statesman 12/14/2013)
Interview with astrophysicist/educator Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Our Man in Slovenia
(Boston Phoenix 7/19/1999)
Piece about the Central European nation of Slovenia, where I was living during the late '90s. The article was later picked up by the Weekly Wire website.
Day-tripping Around Dubrovnik Reveals Unspoiled Treats
(Chicago Tribune 2/7/1999)
Travel article about Dubrovnik, Croatia, and the surrounding area.
Brian Wilson, in the present tense
(Austin American-Statesman 6/17/2015)
Interview and profile of veteran musician Brian Wilson, touching on his life and legacy with and after the Beach Boys.
DESTINATION: ROMANIA : Time Out in Timisoara : An East-West mix of ordinary pleasures in the city that sent Ceausescu packing
(Los Angeles Times 9/5/1999)
Travel piece about Timisoara, Romania.
Burt Bacharach is Still Pretty Damn Cool
(Austin American-Statesman 11/21/2014)
Interview/profile of legendary composer/musician Burt Bacharach (link is to a revised and expanded version of the original newspaper article, posted on my personal blog)
Austinite Tillie Walden set to publish fourth graphic novel
(Austin American-Statesman 9/11/2017)
Interview/profile of prolific 21-year-old cartoonist Tillie Walden.
Mandy Patinkin sings to chase away political exhaustion
(Austin American-Statesman 11/2/2017)
Interview with actor and singer Mandy Patinkin.
Veteran comedian and actor [Billy Crystal] reflects on his remarkable life and times
(Austin American-Statesman 11/2/2017)
Interview with comedian and actor Billy Crystal.
Some more time together: Carol Burnett comes to Austin
(Austin American-Statesman 4/14/2012)
Interview with TV comedy legend Carol Burnett.
AFF HONOREE NORMAN LEAR THINKS WE'RE IN THE 'GOLDEN AGE' OF TV
(Austin Way 10/27/2015)
Interview with legendary TV writer and producer Norman Lear.
Can German-Jewish food be the next culinary trend?
(The Jewish Advocate 9/4/2015)
Interview with a mother-daughter team about their work in progress, the first German-Jewish cookbook to be published in decades (it was published in 2017).
Chrissie Hynde: Still going down the middle of the road
(Austin American-Statesman 11/15/2014)
Interview with musician Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders.
Cleveland Still Rocks
(Austin American-Statesman 11/12/2019)
Travel article about Cleveland, Ohio.