ELENA GOMEZ
elena.cristin.gomez@gmail.com
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Associate Director of Media Relations
University of San Diego 3/2020- present
- Develop, create and pitch story ideas to local and national media outlets about stories focused on the University of San Diego
- Pitch university faculty expertise to the media to provide perspective on timely news events
- Turn media pitches into content (articles, videos) for social media and for the USD News Center
- Provide expertise and draft communication for crisis management situations
- Write press releases and edit/shoot video news releases about university events/news
Freelance, General Assignment Reporter
ABC 7 Eyewitness News, Los Angeles 12/2019-present
- Write stories and report live for ABC 7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles with a focus on fast-paced and developing breaking news
- Freelance position, mostly for weekend and holiday coverage
Freelance Lifestyle Reporter
San Diego Magazine 10/2020- present
- Write and pitch lifestyle stories focused on San Diego people and places
- Conduct interviews, research and write the articles by deadline
Creator of ‘Home Told by Elena’ — Lifestyle Blog 10/2020 – present
- Created a lifestyle blog focused on the people and places of North County San Diego
- Host, shoot, edit, write and produce short videos and digital articles for the blog
- Manage social media accounts (YouTube and Instagram)
- Edit using Adobe Premiere Pro and shoot video with a Sony a7 DSLR
Freelance, ABC News One Correspondent, LA Bureau 10/2019 – 2/2020
- Wrote and presented network news stories for ABC’s local affiliate stations using video elements produced by network correspondents and producers
- Covered large breaking news stories like the Getty Fire and the Saugus High School shooting, including newsworthy events like the Democratic primary debates
- Ability to report live more than a dozen times a day during breaking news coverage
Freelance Digital Media Producer
NBC 7 San Diego, San Diego, CA 10/2019-02/2020
- Pitched stories ideas, wrote web articles for NBC 7 San Diego’s website, developed social media posts and shot/edited videos/interviews for digital platforms
Co-Founder, Blogger
‘Our Perpetual Discovery’ 10/2017-10/2019
- Content strategy/planning, writing stories and editing videos covering travel, lifestyle and news
- Manage social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
- Pitch stories to editors for coverage on online and print publications
- Produced stories include: yellow vest protests in Paris, flooding of the Seine river in Paris, Notre Dame cathedral fire, Strasbourg Christmas market shooting reaction
General Assignment Reporter/Multimedia Journalist/Editor
NBC 7 San Diego, San Diego, CA 9/2010-2017
- 6 years of live-reporting/on-camera experience (Emmy-nominated for On-Camera Talent)
- Reported live for NBC 7 San Diego — covering deadline-driven breaking news, localized national stories, crime, court cases, wildfires, weather and lifestyle stories
- Worked independently as a multimedia journalist (MMJ)– requiring in-depth researching, fact verification, shooting video, interviewing, writing, editing and reporting stories for newscasts
- Pitched story ideas to producers after research and talking with experts/community
- Maintained social media accounts to engage with my 4k+ total followers and get story ideas from the community
- Developed working relationships with local media representatives to get information for stories, to set-up interviews and to generate press coverage for their brands
- Ability to take complicated information and turn it into a clear, concise story
- Turned broadcast stories into web news articles for the nbc7.com website
- Worked as a morning editor at NBC 7 San Diego for a year, prior to reporting
TAPIF English Teaching Assistant
French Embassy, Paris, France 10/2017-4/2019
- Prepared and led English lessons for ESL (English as a Second Language) students (aged 5-11-years-old) in Paris with a focus on conversational language acquisition
- Served as an American ‘ambassador’ by sharing my language and culture
EDUCATION
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA –MA in Mass Communication & Media Studies, 2017 – Thesis: ‘The Power of Social Media Images and Two-Way Communication in Social Movements’
Chapman University, Orange, CA– BFA in Television & Broadcast Journalism, minors in Public Relations and Spanish, 2009
Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, Seville, Spain –Study Abroad program
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
President, NAHJ San Diego-Tijuana Chapter 2/2014 – 8/2017
Alpha Gamma Delta Alpha Experience Advisor for SDSU 7/2012- 8/2017
Teaching journalism to Boys and Girls Club students in Vista, CA 9/2015 – 1/2016
Girl Scout Gold Award Volunteer Advisor 9/2010-10/2012
AWARDS
Emmy nomination, Outstanding Achievement for On-Camera Talent 5/2016
Nomination, Latinos Making a Difference, ‘San Diego Magazine’ 10/2015
District Attorney’s Citizens’ Academy Graduate 5/2014
Society of Professional Journalists 2nd Place Award for “Hot Classrooms” 7/2014
Appreciation Award from Boys and Girls Club of Vista, CA 5/2014
STAR Award: Producing Voice of Oceanside Program on PTSD 6/2011
San Diego Press Club: 2nd place award for Producing “Voice of Oceanside” 10/2010
‘Mir Tukhi Most Promising Broadcast Journalist Award’, Chapman U 5/2006
‘Elena Gomez Day in the City of Vista’ for community service excellence 5/2005
Elena Gomez 