Resume

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

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