INGRID STURGIS

11209 Raging Brook Drive, Bowie, MD 20720 Phone: 609-915-8494

Twitter: @sturgis | Linkedin: ingridsturgis | Facebook: isturgis | E-mail: isturgis@gmail.com

Summary of Qualifications:
An innovator and educator with extensive experience as a content creator, editor and writer in print, broadcast and on the Internet. Exceptional knowledge of Web technologies and social networking. Develop multimedia content and curriculum for world-class interactive experiences.

Professional Experience

CONSULTANT. 2010-present. Train professionals and others to make the best use of social media and other Web 2.0 technology and software. Clients: Bermuda Department of Communications and Information. heartandsoul.com, soulofamerica.com, fierceforblackwomen.com.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR – NEW MEDIA. School of Communications. Department of Media Journalism and Film. Howard University. 2008-Present.

Teach journalism and new media courses. Help develop new media curriculum for journalism department. Serve as Concentration Coordinator. Academic highlights:

• Truthbetold.news: Part of team that received an ONA Challenge Fund grant to create a fact-checking site that focuses on black stories in the news.
• Co-chair Social Media Technology Conference and Workshop.
• Developed hybrid Digital Media Literacy course for freshmen

INSTRUCTOR. Raritan Valley Community College. Branchburg, N.J. Spring 2008.

Teach news reporting and online newspaper design. Help students develop the fundamentals of newsgathering, news writing and publishing on the Web.

SENIOR PROGRAMMING MANAGER. AOL. New York, NY. 2006-2008.

Led team in development of world-class interactive multimedia content across news, sports and business channels at BlackVoices.com, the No. 1 Web site for African-Americans. Collaborated creatively in matrixed environment with photo editors, multimedia editors, Web designers, Web technologists, ad sales, P.R., product managers, project managers to design, develop and promote state-of-the-art features providing users with the most valuable, convenient, relevant, and enjoyable online experience.

• Worked on company-wide initiative to improve search engine optimization across site with efforts resulting in 52% growth in year-over-year SEO referrals.
• Doubled page views for news channel through use of news blog and targeted stories appealing to African-American users.
• Created multimedia curriculum for audience interested in self-help, self-improvement and self-development.

HEARST VISITING PROFESSIONAL. John H. Johnson School of Communications, Howard University, Washington, D.C. Fall 2006.

Developed syllabus and taught inaugural undergraduate magazine editing and production course. Helped students develop creative and collaborative skills related to the broad range of editorial responsibilities, including content, planning, writing, editing, and design. Brought in guest speakers from various magazine-related industries. Advised students, prepared and scored student exams and projects. Class developed prototype for student magazine.

EDITOR IN CHIEF. Essence.com. New York, NY. 2001-2005.

Directed Web team at the premier online destination for African-American women. Joined team at critical time, helping to move editors to take advantage of the Internet. Involved in redesigning channels, developing content and migration of content to new hosting platform. Worked with editorial team to create multimedia content (polls, surveys, etc.) to complement articles in each issue. And, worked with technical team to create new features for Web site. Also, oversaw creation of special event mini-sites.

• Launched online component to editorial campaign to bring attention to degrading music lyrics, which spurred a community forum that increased Web site traffic 75 percent, and garnered heavy press coverage.

MANAGING EDITOR. Savoy and BET Weekend Magazines. Washington, D.C. 1997-2001.

As founding managing editor of Savoy, played an integral role administering the day-to-day operation. Oversaw staff of 15 and successfully steered the magazine’s initial marketplace launch and subsequent spin-off from BET weekend magazine. At BET Weekend, headed an award-winning national lifestyle, arts and entertainment magazine that was inserted in 26 newspapers around the country. Oversaw staff of 10 and freelancers, as well as $2 million budget. BET Weekend Circulation: 1.3 million (ABC audited).

• Trained new editorial and administrative employees, as well as worked to troubleshoot computer and administrative problems and to maintain a consistent workflow. Contributed story ideas, assigned and edited stories.
• Oversaw deadlines to ensure that the Savoy was completed in six months and within budget target.

Previous Newspaper Experience

Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. COPY EDITOR. 1994-1997
The Courier-News. Bridgewater, N.J. SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR. 1992-1994
Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. FEATURES REPORTER. 1990-1992
Times-Herald Record. Middletown, N.Y. BUSINESS REPORTER. 1988-1989

Education
New York University, M.A. Journalism
City College of New York, B.A. Art; minor, English

Training and Skills

Best Practices in Distance-Learning

Bryant Park Toastmasters: Competent Communicators Certificate

Omniture SiteCatalyst Web Analytics

Project Management Basics

AOL SEO Certification, including standards, strategy and implementation, tools and assessment

Basic knowledge of HTML, Photoshop, and content management systems.

In progress: Google AdWords.

Honors, Awards and Other Distinction

2010 Fulbright-Hays U.S. Speaker and Specialist, Jamaica

2010/2009 Fellow, Dow Jones News Fund, Multimedia Training at Western Kentucky University

2010 Fellow: Knight Digital Media Center, News Entrepreneur Boot Camp, UC Berkeley

2010 Fellow: The Knight Digital Media Center, Web 2.0 Training for Journalists, UC Berkeley

2006 Howard University, Hearst Visiting Professional

2003 New Media Training Workshop, Columbia University

1999 Unity Awards in Media, Reporting of Economics, BET Weekend Magazine

1989 New York Association of Black Journalists Service Award

1982 Fairchild Fellowship in Journalism at New York University

1978 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Books Published

Social Media: Pedagogy and Practice. (Rowman and Littlefield Ltd.) Langmia, K; Tia, T.; O’Brien, P.; Sturgis, I.
Are Traditional Media Dead? Can Journalism Survive in the Digital World? (International Debate Education Association)

Aunties: 35 Writers Celebrate Their Other Mother (Ballantine Books)
The Nubian Wedding Book: Words and Rituals to Celebrate and Plan an African-American Wedding (Crown Books)