COVER LETTER & RESUME

My name is Colin McKinney. I am a sports designer and copy editor for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a multiple Pulitzer Prize winning publication that covers some of the most storied sports franchises in the United States in the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Steelers. 

 

The Post-Gazette has given me new light on the writing process, as well as let me spread my wings creatively with the sports section. The design work of Steve Ziants, who has been a sports designer for the Post-Gazette for many years, has really helped to elevate my work and processes even in a very short time. I read anywhere between 20 and 50 stories a day, including high school roundups, content for the local major sports teams and about the University of Pittsburgh. In that role I create headlines and subheads to the specifications that our designers provide. I also design the sports section, which can be up to 12 pages, budgeting out our content, laying out the section and designing a specialty Steelers section based around takeaways from the game as well as covering the other NFL games.

 

Prior to working at the Post-Gazette, I was a graphic designer for HOUR Media, home to Detroit’s premier magazines such as HOUR Detroit and Grand Rapids Magazine. I primarily worked in designing and processing our advertising content, including making sure ads were prepared correctly to print, designing new ads and advertorial content for the many clients of the magazines. I also worked side-by-side with our sales and marketing departments to provide the necessary materials they needed, such as house ads, printed fliers, brochures, media kits and sale sheets. I also designed web banners for our sites at the request of our marketing arm. HOUR also asked me to work on the Grand Rapids Business Journal  due to my vast experience in working in print and news design.

 

I also worked for Lee Enterprises as a publication designer, where I was responsible for five to six sports sections and designing between 30 and 45 pages daily, as well as assisting editors via Slack for feedback. My first stint with the company I learned to hone my skills as a journalist and came to understand not only how important our work was but how important it was to do it correctly. I was responsible for correcting errors, re-writing headlines and assisting my team with any ideas or suggestions that they may have during their day.

 

I received my bachelor of arts degree in journalism with a concentration in visual communication with Michigan State University. I learned through experimenting that graphic design is both incredibly fun and incredibly important for the communications world. I constantly work with Adobe products, including inDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat. I also have experience working with Premiere, After Effects and Lightroom.

 

My goal has always been as well-rounded as possible. Working in different industries has given me a diverse skill set and allowed me to spread my wings both creatively and professionally. I know I have the ability to be an important cog in any system for any business.

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Thank you,

Colin McKinney