Joseph M. de Leon - (journalist, graphic artist, web producer, instructor)
email, resume, business clips, GA clips, design

Working until the project’s done. Coaxing details from people. Meeting deadlines.

Before 2005, that meant making illustrations, designing Web sites and showing people how to click menus. For more than 10 years, I worked as a graphic artist and computer instructor. Now it means gathering and distributing details about current events, trends, and people.

I taught myself computer design in hopes of making documentaries, but something was missing – I didn’t know how to tell a story. After studying journalism at San Antonio College, I started a new career in Frederick, Md. following a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund summer internship at The Frederick News-Post. For 15 months, I earned awards for writing descriptive narratives about community news. I also posted daily updates to the Web, contributed to the FNP@3 webcast and blogged about business.

When I moved to Seattle in August 2007, I began freelancing for the Puget Sound Business Journal and the business desk of The Seattle Times. That September, I was hired as a news producer for seattletimes.com where I connected readers with online news. When I decided to move home to Texas in late 2008, I found work as a news producer for the Waco Tribune-Herald.

Now I write for the Cedar Park and Leander edition of Community Impact Newspaper, a monthly journal that focuses on business, development, transportation, education and government.

Few journalists can combine reporting and more than a decade of graphic and Web design experience. I can craft multi-layered narratives to give readers context and insight. I am living my dream to combine journalism, graphics and Web design to help readers understand the news.

Sincerely,

Joseph M. de Leon