Professional Summary
Award-winning reporter with 10+ years of experience working for newspapers, radio and online media outlets. Coverage centered on metro, immigration, climate and environment, social justice and music. Held additional leadership positions and mentored younger journalists throughout career.
Education
- Master of Mass Communication, Arizona State University, 2016
- Thesis: “Recommendations for Implementing Journalism Programs for the Montessori Secondary Education System”
- Thesis Director: Kristin Gilger
- B.A. in Journalism, Arizona State University, 2016
- School: Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Awards and Honors
- Best Audio-Short Feature Story, Covering Climate Now Awards, 2022
- Diversity Fellow, Society of Environmental Journalists, 2022
- Metcalf Institute Fellow, University of Rhode Island, 2021
- Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting, Minneapolis Star Tribune (newsroom prize), 2021
- Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Fellow, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and CUNY, 2019
- Outstanding Graduate, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Arizona State University, 2016
Relevant Professional Experience
Administrator, University of Denver, [2023 – present]
- Responsibilities: Perform day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month tasks of the Center for Immigration Policy & Research at DU. This includes conducting team meetings, organizing and facilitating community events, managing two student employees, handling account transfers and grant disbursements and other administrative duties.
Reporter, Freelance, [2022 – present]
- Responsibilities: Write and report about music for several outlets, including New York Times Magazine, NPR Music, and Resident Advisor. Body of work includes personal essays, album reviews, artist interviews, and podcast episodes. Started and produce my own newsletter and podcast, Loops, featuring artist interviews and guest DJ mixes.
Audiobook Narrator, Talking Book Publishers, [2023]
- Responsibilities: Narrated books and magazines for talking book libraries served by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
Climate and Environment Reporter, Colorado Public Radio, [2021 – 2023]
- Responsibilities: Covered statewide climate and environment news for CPR News online and on the air (90.1 FM). Focused on environmental justice, utilities, disaster recovery, oil and gas, and renewable energy. Produced breaking news, live interviews, radio features and investigations.
Metro Reporter, Minnesota Star Tribune, [2016 – 2020]
- Responsibilities: Covered Minneapolis and its western suburbs online and in print for the largest newspaper in Minnesota. Member of the Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom that reported on the murder of George Floyd and the immediate unrest following his death. Minneapolis beat included the city council and mayor, the parks board, neighborhoods and breaking news.
Intern, Various Outlets, [2013-2016]
- Responsibilities: Practiced and served several roles for newsrooms including the Arizona Republic, the Seattle Times, and the Boston Globe. Covered breaking news, crime, courts, education and human interest stories.
Professional Development
- Annual Conference, Society of Environmental Journalists, 2022
- Annual Science Immersion Workshop, Metcalf Institute at University of Rhode Island, 2021
- Annual Conference, Investigative Reporters and Editors, 2020
- Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, 2019
- Board Certification, KFAI Fresh Air Community Radio (90.1 FM), 2019
Service and Leadership
- NPR Next Gen Radio
- Mentor, hosted at CPR News in downtown Denver, 2022
- CPR News
- Member, Language Advisory Committee, 2022
- Minnesota Newspaper & Communications Guild
- Guild Vice Chair, Star Tribune Unit, 2018-19
- Arizona State University
- Editor-in-Chief, Downtown Devil, 2015
Professional Memberships
- Union of Musicians and Allied Workers, Member, 2024-present
Skills
- Teaching Skills: Organization, time management, classroom management, one-on-one mentorship and feedback, adaptive teaching, lesson planning, verbal and written communication, public speaking, deep subject expertise, critical thinking.
- Technical Skills:
- Audio Production: Adobe Audition, Audacity, Zoom recorders, microphones, live board operation, audiobook narration.
- Publishing: Content-management systems including WordPress, Mailchimp, Substack, Presto (Gannett’s CMS), Drupal and other in-house systems; podcast platforms such as YouTube, Substack, Mixcloud, Spotify and Apple; and social media sites including X (Twitter), Instagram and TikTok.
- Reporting tools: Research databases such as LexisNexis; spreadsheet programs such as Excel and Google Sheets; data visualization tools such as Datawrapper and Tableau; and processes to search courts, file data requests, find Census data, and more.
- Language Skills: Spanish (Fluent in reading, writing, and speaking)
References
- Rebecca Galemba, Professor of Anthropology, University of Denver
- rebecca.galemba@du.edu
- 603-667-5961
- Lisa Martinez, Professor of Sociology, University of Denver
- lisa.martinez@du.edu
- 303-931-5475
- James Shiffer, metro editor, Minnesota Star Tribune
- james.shiffer@gmail.com
- 612-619-6300
Miguel Otárola 