Riley J. Utley

CinemaBlend, Remote

Weekend Editor | August 2022 - Present

• Writes at least 20 stories a week

• Helps edit, pitch and facilitate stories

• Interviews actors and creatives for movies and TV shows

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POPSUGAR, Virtual

• Contributing Writer | February 2022-July 2022

  • Pitches five to ten story ideas, SEO headlines and story promotion strategies per week

  • Writes at least one story per week

 

Advanced Local Media | Syracuse.com, The Post-Standard, CNY Magazine, NY Up.com, Syracuse, NY

• Intern | January 2022-June 2022

  • Researched, wrote, reported and photographed one to four weekly stories for the life and culture section

  • Used content management system to create story packages that feature copy, photos and other multimedia elements

 

The NewsHouse, Syracuse, NY

• Assistant Executive Producer | January 2022-May 2022

  • Assisted producers in creating 15-20 story packages a week and five to ten new author profiles a week

  • Wrote, curated and edited the publication’s weekly newsletter

  • Corrected and modified HTML code in the CMS

  • Communicated with new writers and producers to create story packages and acted as a liaison between classes working with The NewsHouse and the lead producer team

  • Copy edited stories for AP Style and fact checked stories in a timely manner for The NewsHouse and Entitled to Equality Project

• Social Media Director | August 2021-December 2021

  • Managed and posted all NewsHouse stories on all major social media platforms

  • Created creative and compelling social media posts that fit the NewsHouse brand

  • Acted as liaison between students and the NewsHouse team during social media rotations

 

Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

• Instructional Associate for Rezak Music Business Lecture | August 2021-May 2022

  • Managed attendance for over 130 students, set up the classroom and checked all technology

  • Graded and gave constructive feedback on all homework

 

The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA                                                                                

• Freelance Writer | April 2018-January 2022

  • Reported and wrote stories as needed for general news assignments, typically working on a two-day deadline. 

 

Gonzaga Student Media, Spokane, WA

• The Gonzaga Bulletin — Editor-in-Chief | April 2020-December 2020

  • Hired and managed all staff involved with the publication

  • Edited every page for the print edition and online articles using Adobe InDesign and BLOX CMS

  • Assisted in developing and launching The Gonzaga Bulletin app

  • Created the first issue of the Zag Mag through reporting stories, creating a design guide and editing all pages

  • Lead all staff meetings

  • Facilitated staff training and education

  • Created a comprehensive employment guide for all positions at The Gonzaga Bulletin

  • Used social media to enhance storytelling and update readers on a regular basis

• The Gonzaga Bulletin — Head News Editor | December 2018-May 2020

  • Managed news section, corresponded with staff writers, contributors and photographers to create the print paper weekly

  • Pitched, copy edited and posted stories online and social media, designed print pages on a weekly basis for the news section 

  • Wrote stories on a weekly basis for all sections of the newspaper: news, arts and entertainment, opinion and sports

  • Regularly used Adobe InDesign, BLOX CMS and Hootsuite to create a weekly paper and updated website

 

Spokane Public Schools, Spokane, WA                                                     

• District Administrative Assistant | June 2019-May 2021

  • Worked with administrative staff to update and manage all transfer files

• Classroom Assistant at Logan Elementary School | September 2018-September 2020

  • Helped teachers and students ranging from first through fifth grade through student assistance, assignment and test corrections and basic classroom upkeep

• Work-Study Assistant at Express Childcare for Finch Elementary School | May 2020-August 2020

  • Worked with children between the ages of 4-13 on homework and getting to Zoom meetings to finish out the school year during the coronavirus.​

  • Helped facilitate and plan weekly activities for children during summer programming.​​​

 

The Pacific Northwest Inlander, Spokane, WA                                                          

• Freelance Writer | September 2019-March 2020

  • Brainstormed, pitched, reported and wrote stories when needed for arts and culture section

• Intern | June 2019-August 2019

  • Wrote primarily for the culture and food sections

  • Contributed to weekly event picks, people on the street interviews and entertainment picks

  • Worte blogs exclusively for the website

  • Used Instagram to create stories and post to complement event coverage                                  ​

 

United States Department of Agriculture/Farm Service Agency, Davenport, WA

• Temporary Program Technician | May 2018-August 2018

  • Assisted in performing specific, routine segments of broader program operations

  • Welcomed and assisted all producers who came into the office

  • Organized and maintained all files for producers across all agricultural programs