Experience

I’m currently a features writer for Virginia Media (The Virginian-Pilot, The Daily Press and The Virginia Gazette). Feel free to check out my work using the links below, or email me at Saleen.Martin25@gmail.com.

• ‘Black Art Reframed’: Pop-up gallery at Norfolk State University to support creatives, HBCUs

• Virginia Beach native discusses her new country EP, ‘History of Breaking Up (Part One)’

• Years in the making, local legend Chef Sydney Meers is getting his own show on WHRO

• Tips from a fan on enjoying Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

—

Education

Master of Arts
Journalism concentration
University of Georgia
May 2018
                                      

Bachelor of Arts
English and Secondary Education concentration
Virginia Wesleyan College
May 2014

—

Work Experience

Features Writer
The Virginian-Pilot
June 2021  – Present

• Report and write daily news, enterprise, and other stories for print, Pilotonline.com and Dailypress.com
• Help create guides for special events such as the fall arts calendar, Fourth of July celebrations and Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
• Enter articles and photos into Arc, the company’s content management system

Staff Writer – DART Squad (Digital Action in Real Time)
The Virginian-Pilot
August 2018 – June 2021

• Worked on the breaking news team, sometimes on the night shift as the sole reporter, responding to crime scenes and getting information posted to Pilotonline.com and Dailypress.com quickly and accurately
• Reported and wrote enterprise and feature stories for print, Pilotonline.com and Dailypress.com
• Entered articles and photos into Arc, the company’s content management system

Intern
The Virginian-Pilot
May 2018 – August 2018

• Worked on the breaking news team, sometimes on the night shift as the sole reporter, responding to crime scenes and getting information posted to Pilotonline.com and Dailypress.com quickly and accurately
• Reported and wrote enterprise and feature stories for print, Pilotonline.com and Dailypress.com
• Entered articles and photos into Arc, the company’s content management system

Graduate Assistant
University of Georgia’s Division of Marketing & Communications
January 2017 – May 2018

• Reported and wrote features, profiles, and press releases for the media communications department
• Entered articles and photos into a content management system for the university’s weekly newspaper

Graduate Assistant
University of Georgia’s Division of Marketing & Communications
October 2016 – December 2016

• Assisted in researching the unionization of reality television by gathering, summarizing and organizing articles and periodicals into Microsoft spreadsheets
• Transcribed and archived extensive interviews using Microsoft Word

Digital Intern
WAVY-TV 10
June 2017 – August 2017

• Wrote stories for the web (WAVY.com and hrScene.com)
• Posted multimedia stories about Hampton Roads
• Created and scheduled Facebook posts promoting coverage
• Assisted in operating the website with regular updates and constantly emerging content
• Contacted sources to verify information for stories
• Organized a spreadsheet listing animals and participating shelters in the “Clear the Shelters” campaign
• Communicated regularly with local shelters to ensure that featured pets were still available prior to posting them on the WAVY TV 10 Facebook page

—

Skills

• Skilled in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher
• Proficient in Adobe Premiere, InDesign, InCopy and Audition
• Skilled in WordPress, Expression Engine and Arc