Eric L. Tsetsi

Résumé

2010-01-01T13:51:00.052-05:00

Work Experience
(November 2011 – Present) – Web Editor: Phoenix New Times.
Responsible for maintaining and building on the Web presence of Phoenixnewtimes.com, the online edition of the Phoenix New Times, an award-winning alternative weekly published by Village Voice Media.
• Create and manage content, and promote it on aggregator, niche and social media sites to grow community and pageviews.
• Oversee a monthly budget for freelance photographers and content production assignments.
• Produce weekly and monthly website traffic reports. Responsible for hitting website traffic goals.

(January 2011 – January 2012) – Web Coordinator: Society of American Business Editors and Writers
• Maintain SABEW.org’s Web presence with regular news and information updates.
• Help develop e-newsletters and social media campaigns.
• Provide support for annual SABEW events including industry conferences and journalism award contests.

(Oct. 2010 – Nov. 2011) – Writing and English Tutor: Phoenix College Success Center
• Aided ESL and first-year English students with grammar, writing, thesis development and essay organization.
• Instructed students in English pronunciation and reading comprehension.

(Feb. 2010 – Oct. 2010) – Internet Marketing Coordinator: Liberty Interactive Marketing, Phoenix, Ariz.
• Implemented online advertising (PPC) and search engine optimization (SEO) strategies for client accounts.
• Produced and edited HTML e-mails and Web pages.
• Maintained Google, Yahoo! and Bing search marketing campaigns.
• Assisted in the production of monthly PPC and SEO campaign reports.
• Produced news content, press releases, blog posts and Web copy for client accounts.

(Sept. 2009 – Feb. 2010) – Trainee: David and Sam PR, Phoenix, Ariz.

• Copy edited and drafted marketing materials and press releases for client accounts including Dunkin’ Donuts and Sojourner Center, the largest domestic violence shelter in the country.

• Key team member focused on building internal and external social media campaigns and improving SEO.

• Participated in creative marketing brainstorming sessions.

• Performed basic office administrative tasks.

(April 2007 – May 2009) – Staff Writer/Contributor: GateHouse Media New England, Inc.

General Assignment Reporter: The Winchester Star, Winchester, Mass. (Aug. 2007 – May 2009)

• Produced news coverage for the print and online versions of the newspaper as well as short web videos and photos to accompany articles.

• Maintained a blog related to local news and events and created daily content for the newspaper’s website integral to increasing traffic to the site by about 30 percent (based on monthly page views) in first full year of employment.

General Assignment Reporter: The Shrewsbury Chronicle, Shrewsbury, Mass. (April 2007 – Aug. 2007)

• Reported on breaking news, features, local government and regional stories.

• Helped rebuild the newspaper’s relationship with the local police department, resulting in arrest and incident reports being e-mailed directly to the newspaper on a weekly basis.

Staff Contributor: The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, Mass. (April 2007 – Aug. 2007)

• Covered regional stories including meetings, breaking news, education issues, features and crime.

(May 2006 – April 2007) – Staff Writer/Contributor: Stonebridge Press, Southbridge, Mass.

General Assignment Reporter: The Auburn News, Auburn, Mass. (May 2006 – April 2007)

• Produced 8-10 stories a week including features, breaking news and business profiles. Took all photos to accompany articles.

Staff Contributor: The Southbridge Evening News, Southbridge, Mass. (May 2006 – April 2007)

• Provided breaking news and regional coverage as needed.

(Aug. 2004 – May 2006) – Intern, Contributor, Freelancer: Various locations

• Interned with The Noise, a monthly news and arts magazine based in Flagstaff, Ariz., during final semester of undergraduate degree. Contributed news stories, photos and columns from August 2004 to August 2005.

• Contributed stories on assignment and independently for Toward Freedom, an online news magazine based in Burlington, Vt.

Education

B.S. Journalism, minor: philosophy, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.

Volunteer Work
(Dec. 2009 – present) – Northern Arizona University Alumni Association volunteer.

(Sept. 2009 – present) – KJZZ/KBAQ, Phoenix’s National Public Radio stations, 2323 W. 14th St., Tempe, Ariz.

(Nov. 2008 – Dec. 2008) – Mission of Deeds, 6 Chapin Road, Reading, Mass.

Skills

• Proficient with AP style and familiar with Chicago Manual of Style.

• Intricate attention to detail and strong research aptitude.

• Interactive journalism: video production, photography, blogging and writing for the web.

• SEO specialist with knowledge of web design best practices and online marketing tactics.

• HTML/CSS website design and CMS experience.

• Photoshop image editing.

• Experience with e-mail marketing services including Exact Target and Campaign Monitor.

• Proficient with Google Analytics and AdWords.

• Understanding of Freedom of Information Act and media law.

• Fulfilling numerous responsibilities in a deadline-driven environment.

• Presenting news and information dynamically using alternative formats.

Training and Coursework

• New England Newspaper Association workshop for weeklies and small dailies led by former New York Times reporter, Rosalie Stemer.

• Regular professional development meetings with peer reporters and editors.

• Video and editing training by GateHouse Media, Inc.

• Introduction to HTML and CSS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champion.

• Media writing and reporting

• Advanced reporting

• Communication analysis

• Basic editing

• Feature writing

• Pubic affairs reporting

• Humor writing

• Critical and analytical reporting

• Mass communication law and ethicss

Back in Arizona

2009-10-13T23:39:00.003-04:00

The sun has finally cooled off in this sprawling city of blacktop and strip malls, blondes and barrios. But the people are still mad from overexposure to UV rays. Cars roar through the streets and vacant, 100-yard stares roll around in wide-eyed sockets.

It’s been about two months now since Jackie and I moved back to Phoenix. When we first got here, the sun was a scorching 110 degrees during the height of the day. Now it’s an enjoyable mid-day 80-90 degrees with cool desert nights, perfect for sleeping.

We returned to this desert oasis in late August by way of a cross-country road trip in a Penske truck. Shortly after arriving at Jackie’s parent’s house in Scottsdale, she secured a job working as an adjunct instructor in the Maricopa Community College system. I landed a trainee position with a PR studio (David and Sam PR) in the downtown area and also volunteer at the local NPR station while I continue looking for full-time work.

Unfortunately Phoenix (a city more than twice the size of Boston) is suffering from a considerable blight of professional jobs. But for a career journalist, that’s a pretty common story these days. On a positive note, Jackie and I are thankfully avoiding the brutal New England winter this year.

The one other downside about this city is that it has some of the worst and most aggressive drivers I’ve ever seen – and that’s saying a lot as a former Massachusetts driver. Every stoplight is the start of a race, eight-lane highways are a free-for-all, and more than half of the drivers on the roads apparently don’t see the point of using a turn signal. Sometimes I feel like I’m on the verge of turning into Clive Owen’s character in Shoot ‘Em Up. That can probably be blamed on the sun too.

Ireland 2009: Part Two

2009-09-27T15:13:00.002-04:00

We spent two nights in Cork couchsurfing with Jana, then headed out to Beach Cove. We stopped at Blarney Castle along the way.

Ireland 2009

2009-09-26T20:04:00.002-04:00

I'm finally starting to put together some videos from our Europe trip. The first is from our drive from Dublin down to Cork. Driving a stick shift on the left-hand side of the road and shifting with your left hand is trickier than it might seem.

A bailout for newspapers?

2009-09-21T19:46:00.004-04:00

Thehill.com is reporting President Obama is open to the idea of a newspaper industry "bailout." I wonder how people would react to this given their reaction to the bailout of car manufacturers?

Check out the article here:

Obama open to newspaper bailout

Another related article:

Ready, Aim, Charge!: The online pay puzzle

Cheers to 250 years of the 'Black Stuff'

2009-09-20T17:34:00.008-04:00

The Independent newspaper is celebrating the 250^th anniversary of Guinness today. That’s a good enough reason for me to grab a four-pack of stout and toast absolutely anything to pour a cold slosh of the liquid gold down my gullet (like the old cartoon characters behind x-ray screens). Cheers to Guinness, and two-and-a-half centuries of great beer!

And although it’s only 2:30 p.m. (Arizona time), I haven’t overlooked the fact that Guinness makes you strong, so a pint will undoubtedly provide me with the energy needed to get through the rest of the afternoon satisfactorily completing all those Sunday chores I haven’t gotten to yet.

(Jackie and I visited the Guinness brewery in Dublin during our stay. Definitely worth it -- you get a free pint, and they have a display of the classic advertisements.)

The hard life of an Albanian

2009-09-17T18:36:00.005-04:00

I learned from my cousin recently that Greeks have been known to measure the amount of manual labor needed to complete a job in units of Albanians required. Being 50 percent Albanian, I find this to be an honor, rather than an insult. And I’m positive it’s a testament to the heartiness of Albanians everywhere.

What Greeks apparently know, which most do not, is that one Albanian can perform the work of ten average laborers. This is how my Dad (100 percent Albanian) and I were able to build a 200 square-foot, blue stone patio in less than a week.

We started the project shortly after Jackie and I returned from our Europe trip. It took some pushing and prodding on my part (typical) the get the project off the ground, but once we started digging up the sod and preparing the dirt, we had those stones laid and set into a layer of sand in a few days flat.

For a man whose chosen profession requires him to be behind a desk most of the day, I find physical labor to be a most satisfactory activity. Lugging around 10-30 pound stones, digging holes, and shoveling dirt appeals to my inner-Albanian.

A Nutshell

2009-09-05T13:10:00.030-04:00

Sadly, our Europe trip has been over for a little more than a month now and I’ve only written about half of the journey. I won’t feel quite right until I do my best to encapsulate the rest of the trip without turning into a pillar of salt. So I’ll give a brief rundown of the other places Jackie and I visited during our overseas excursion.

Belgium

We left London on June 22 on a Eurostar train to Brussels. The train doesn’t stop in Bruges (even though it goes almost directly by the small city), but you get a free transfer to anywhere in Belgium if you buy the Eurostar ticket. So from Brussels we caught the earliest train to Bruges. We stayed at the Lybeer Traveler's Hostel near old town square during our visit. In my opinion it was one of the best hostels we stayed at on the entire trip. We spent four nights there, and both of us wish we could have spent more time wandering the cobblestone streets and canals and soaking in the fairy tale atmosphere and trying to spot different scenes from “In Bruges.” The beer was great, but the food, very expensive. We survived mainly on the beer. My new favorite is Tongerlo (that's me with a half-pint).

Netherlands

A four to five-hour bus ride took us from Bruges to Amsterdam on June 27. We spent four nights at two separate hostels in the city often known for its coffee shops and red lights. But more than any other unique aspect of Amsterdam, I found the volume of bike traffic on the streets the most astounding. Walking around that city is both enthralling and maddening. At any moment a bike, tram, car or fellow pedestrian could knock you down. We took an obligatory tour through the Van Gogh Museum, which was very much worth the Euro. Probably one of the best museums we visited on the trip. We also hung out in Vondelpark, and toured through the red light district at night. The best part about the red light district was watching the young men crowd around and gawk at the women without ever gaining the courage to talk with one.

Germany

Berlin was our next stop. We took a comfortable train ride to Berlin from Amsterdam – much nicer than the bus. But we didn’t get into Berlin until nightfall, and by the time we were walking to our hostel, covered in sweat and tired from the day’s journey, just about every restaurant was closed. Fortunately for us, we found a great little bar just around the corner from where we were staying and got ourselves some hotdogs and beer. Turns out, the pub is one of Berlin’s oldest – if not the oldest “draft house” – in the city. Several old German folks were hanging out listening to Michael Jackson tunes. He had just died. We took a great, guided tour through Berlin and saw many of the WWII historic sites.

Czech Republic

Prague was most certainly one of the greatest places we visited on our trip, partly due to the better exchange rate (the CR hasn’t switched to the Euro yet), and partly because of the atmosphere of the city. We stayed at the Atlas Hostel near the old red light district and had a room on the top floor, which was nice, but quite a workout. On the ground floor there was a great little Greek restaurant called Zorbas. We ate dinner there both nights of our stay. There’s an abundance of cool stuff to see and do in Prague, but if I had it to do again I might skip the Franz Kafka museum. Not because I don’t like Franz Kafka – I love Kafka – but because we were strapped for time and it seemed that whoever designed the museum threw the whole thing together haphazardly, without care for the pieces in the exhibit. A downer. But if you ever make it to the “City of 1,000 spires” drop by Absinthe Time and say hello to Brad Huff. He’s a great American guitarist now living in Prague and recording his music. He plays there most nights of the week from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., or at least he did while we were there.

Austria

Vienna – The highlight of our two-night stay in Vienna was most certainly Gerhard. We met the older gentleman at a small café in the downtown area on our first day in the former capital of the Roman Empire. I struck up a conversation with him about something like the weather and he offered to give us an unofficial tour through the city. He showed us the Winter Palace, the old seals still in place over doorways that used to signify certain family names, and several museums. After walking us around Vienna for a good hour, he shook our hands and was on his way. I found out he used to be an international trader, which he said was part of the reason why he spoke such perfect English.

Italy

The best train ride we had during our entire trip was from Vienna to Venice. We left Austria on an early morning train July 8, and had a six-person coach to ourselves the entire eight-hour ride. We arrived in Venice in the mid-afternoon, with the sun shining into the turquoise water. Venice is one of those few places that fulfill every expectation. We stayed on the island of Lido in a small villa called the Pension Stella during our visit. Of all the places we went Amsterdam was by far the easiest place to get lost, but Venice was the best. Wandering the tiny alleyways and exploring the bridges and canals was worth way more than a hundred Euro gondola ride. Initially we were thinking of skipping Venice – I’m so glad we didn’t. After Venice we headed to Florence where we indulged in wine and shopping. We saw David, a great sunset at the Piazzale Michelangelo, the Galleria Uffizi and the Scuola Del Cuoio

(leather making school).
We spent three nights in Florence before heading east to a small string of towns called Cinque Terre, on the Italian Riviera. We stayed in Riomaggiore, the first of the five (cinque) towns for four nights. Riomaggiore, like the other towns encompassing Cinque Terre, is built on a steep hillside overlooking the Mediterranean. Everywhere you walk is either up narrow, winding stairs or down – there’s no respite for the weary. Connecting the five towns is a nature trail. The first day we walked to the third town in the string, and found a “beach” – it was more like a field of small rocks – where we swam in the Mediterranean for the first time. The next day we took a train to the fifth town called Monterosso, and hiked back to Vernazza. We hopped a train to Riomaggiore too tired to go any further.

France

We made it to Nice, France on July 15 after a hellish six-hour train ride from Riomaggiore. Once in France we decided to rent a car rather than navigate the train system any longer. It turned out to be a better deal than purchasing the rather expensive train tickets, and it had the added benefit of giving us the chance to explore more of the countryside.
We only spent one night in Nice, wanting to get away from the madding crowds of tourists, and headed north over the French Alps. We stayed for a night near Jausiers in a small mountain town akin to a stateside ski resort village. From there we drove up and over a section of the Alps – I can’t remember the name of the mountain. Eventually we made it to Lyon and then we drove back across the country to Bergerac, located in the Bordeaux region.Bergerac is a small, scrappy little city surrounded by vineyards and sunflower farms. We drank a lot of great wine and visited Thich Nhat Hanh’s Buddhist retreat, Plum Village. From there we drove north to Rennes, where we spent two nights before heading to Paris. We spent the last week of our trip in The City of Lights.
Paris is probably the most beautiful city I’ve had the privilege of visiting. We stayed at a great hotel, Le Meridien for the entire week, courtesy of the in-laws. Some of the sights we saw included Monet’s garden outside of the city, The Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Moulin Rouge, the Catacombs, the Rodin Museum and many others. I also drove around Le Arc de Triomphe twice, without getting into an accident!

We returned to Boston – back home and back the real world – on July 29, and were picked up at the airport by my Sis.
“Going home has inspired only ambivalence in me. I’m not sad about the end of our trip or happy to be returning,” I wrote in my journal on the flight home. “Rather I feel like we’re on a new leg of our journey – really, our life.”

Quadrupeds = puppies

2009-08-27T17:00:00.005-04:00

From Belfast, Jackie and I traveled by ferry to Scotland and then took a train to Edinburgh. When we arrived and stepped out of the station, our first reaction was amazement.

One of the most immediate things we noticed once above ground is (Sir Walter) Scott Monument -- a huge spire sitting along the river that bisects the city. Beyond the monument, on the other bank of the river, Edinburgh Castle dominates a hilltop. Surrounding us as we looked around was the life of a fully modern city with the façade of an ancient kingdom.

We stayed at the Globetrotter’s Inn on the Fourth of Firth for the first night and then “couchsurfed” with a young woman named Charlotte for two nights in the neighborhood of Leith where Trainspotting was filmed. We saw the Banana Flats and pictures of Irvine Welsh raised high on lampposts.

One of the most interesting run-ins with an Edinburgh resident we had was when a man approached us on the sidewalk outside Charlotte’s apartment. We

were sipping on some scotch we purchased after a tour through the Scotch Whiskey Experience when the man, struggling under the weight of a large box in his arms, came over to us trailed by a obviously recently pregnant Pitt Bull.

He proceeded to strike up a conversation with his rough accent and slyly opened the box saying something about peddling quadrupeds. After the man wandered away, Jackie and I realized he had a litter of puppies inside the box.

We were both glad we didn’t live in Edinburgh because we most certainly would have adopted one of the puppies without a second thought.

Other things we did in Edinburgh included taking a tour through Edinburgh Castle and hiking up Arthur’s Seat, which provides a great view of the entire city.

From Edinburgh, we traveled by train to London where we spent two nights at a cramped hostel. We had initially planned to spend more time in London, but after two nights at the hostel and some typical sightseeing, we decided to head to Belgium where we fully intended on enjoying some great beer – and indeed we did.

The traveller's diet

2009-07-17T05:50:00.004-04:00

I started this journey decidedly over my ideal weight. 180 pounds on a 5-10/11 frame was, in my estimation, about 10-15 pounds too heavy. I blame my former job -- full-time reporter.

As a reporter you spend and enormous amount of time on your rear-end. Sitting in front of the computer, sitting at meetings, sitting down to eat lunch, sitting in the car, sitting down for an interview. The majority of your day is in fact spent sitting in one place or another.

It has a terrible effect on your physique as well as your back, legs and body in general.
My left leg, lower back and butt area would constantly ache due to all the sitting I was doing. Sometimes I feel like a Zen master of sitting due to my years as a reporter.

But that’s the price you pay for being a writer -- sore ass muscles.

“It’s all about butt power,” I remember one author saying during a interview on Tom Ashbrook’s WBUR show “On Point.” How true.

But alas! After about six weeks of traveling I believe I’ve lost between five and 10 pounds. (I haven’t weighed myself yet, I’ll do that at the end of this trip.)

So in the hope of becoming wealthy, with whitened teeth ready for infomercial prime-time, I’ll lay out my formula here for the ultimate travel diet.

It’s simple really, the key is to walk between five and 10 miles a day. Then, you have to starve yourself. Eat maybe a croissant for breakfast with a cup of tea or coffee. For lunch, split a sandwich -- I’m talking a plain old ham sandwich with cheese, not a triple cheeseburger with bacon -- or better yet, just don‘t eat at all. Clutch your stomach with your fingers curled into claws if the gnawing emptiness gets to be unbearable.

For dinner, focus on your budget -- try not to spend more than $20 on your meal (assuming you’re eating out, because that’s usually what’s easiest when you’re traveling.) That's it really.

But seriously, I didn’t plan on loosing any weight, and really I didn’t think I needed to lose much when we left Boston, but it seems like one of those inevitable things that happen on long trips.

I remember when my sister Amanda came back from a summer trip to Peru, she seemed to have shed about a third of her previous body weight -- which is really saying something because she was already thin. (I heard later that she had the clawed hands thing down to perfection.)

There's also the possibility she lost so much weight because she was hiking out in the wilderness on Machu Picchu with lamas and dead horses. I’ll have to ask her.

Belfast and onward

2009-07-17T05:14:00.007-04:00

“What a fucking disgrace,” said Kieran as he watched images on the Belfast evening news of fearful Romanians fleeing their homes.

It was mid-June, and Jackie and I had arrived in Northern Ireland’s capital city shortly before a group of young hooligans terrified more than 100 Romanian immigrants enough that they left their homes in the middle of the night for the safety of a local church.

At the same time, rabble-rousers loyal to England were preparing for their annual parades in show of solidarity to the Queen by building huge bonfires with pallets of wood. The parades often turn into riots, as they did this year. Luckily Jackie and I weren't around to see the mess. Still, it was an interesting time to be in Belfast to say the least.

Jackie and I made it to Northern Ireland after a long drive from Doolin back across the country to the Dublin airport where we dropped off our rental car and hopped a bus up to Belfast. We stayed at a Hostelling International outfit for one night where we met our new Australian friends Steve and Abbey.

The other two nights we stayed with our friends Dominic, Cormac, Steve and Kieran.
Jackie and I met Cormac and Dominic in Boston last fall and they kindly offered to put us up for a couple nights while we were traveling through their city, which is how we met Steve and Kieran.

All four Irishmen were overly gracious hosts. They fed us, and Dominic even let Jackie and I sleep in his bed while we were in town. It was a thoroughly great time.

After our three nights of exploring Belfast we took a ferry to Scotland and arrived in Edinburgh via train.

According to subsequent news reports, the majority of the Romanian immigrants who were subjected to the racist attacks were scheduled to be flown back to their home country at taxpayer expense.

City vs. Country

2009-07-03T12:09:00.011-04:00

Cities like Dublin, Belfast and London have much to offer a traveler, but it’s in the country and smaller cities where I find myself most at peace.

In trying to keep with a somewhat chronological order to my blog (I know I have a lot of catching up to do) I’ll focus on Doolin, Ireland to explain.

Doolin, a small town along the coast of Ireland near the Cliffs of Moher and the Arran Islands (just south of Galway), is off the tourist’s beaten path. But with the traditional Irish music that fills the local pubs nightly and the amazing natural scenery surrounding the no-streetlights village, it was undoubtedly one of the highlights of our trip so far.
While in Doolin Jackie and I stayed at a small, relatively inexpensive hostel called the Aille River Hostel. It sits on the bank of a river that meanders through town (hence the name), and is just a short walk from the town’s three pubs.

In addition to the great music and cool hostellers we met, one of the best parts about our visit to Doolin was the Cliffs of Moher. These sea cliffs are some of the largest and most dramatic in Ireland.

The hostel manager, Karl, informed us of a great “unofficial” hike along the cliff’s edge, which took Jackie and I through cow and horse pastures, back and forth across barbed wire fences and along what appeared to be a goat path right on the cliff’s edge.

There were times when the hike was terrifying, but mostly it was absolutely amazing. In all, the hike lasted about four hours, the aftermath being pure physical exhaustion.

And here lies the difference between a city and the country for me: A city is extremely mentally exhausting, with the sheer amount of activity going on (some cities more so than others -- think Amsterdam), while the country can be physically exhausting. But physical exhaustion for me has the effect of quieting and focusing my mind, which in this age of constant stimulation I find to be a worthwhile exchange.

Swing dancing in Cork

2009-06-27T07:10:00.006-04:00

I’ve never been much of a dancer unless you count the slow, hands on your partner’s hips (or lower back, if I was feeling bold), awkward circular motion of a junior high dance. So when Jana, our coach surfing host in Cork city, suggested Jackie and I join her for a swing dancing class, I had my apprehensions.

I’m going to look like a stumbling fool, or worse, I’ll be embarrassed and red-faced in front of a crowd of foreigners. I thought about faking sickness to avoid this terrible possibility, but hell, stiffen your spine man!

So with a little prodding from Jackie I was convinced to step out of my comfortable shell and try to find a little rhythm in my movements.

When we arrived to the bar where the swing class was taking place, I looked uncertainly at the crowd gathered waiting to dance.

Should I get a drink? Hide in a corner? Go outside and smoke?

None of the above.

Before long, our class instructor had us in a circle and the class began. At first Jackie and I practiced the basic steps together. Then we began changing dance partners and practicing our new moves. Rock step, kick, kick.

I found most of the dancers attending class that night were also beginners, which made me feel better for kicking them in the shins and totally loosing the rhythm at times.

I also told a young woman to spread her legs a little (to make the ‘kick-kick‘ a bit easier). I think it was a bit untoward, but she found it funny.

After about a half hour of switching partners and practicing our newly learned steps, we talked with several of the locals and had a free-dance time.

Swing dancing in Cork was one of the experiences that I would never have had if it wasn’t for our decision to couch surf during this trip. Rather than staying in hostels with loads of other travelers, Jackie and I have been able to see places like Cork from a local’s perspective. We’ve also made some great new friends.

Maybe when we get back to the states we’ll even take swing dancing lessons?

Beach Cove and the recession's impact

2009-06-21T07:05:00.014-04:00

The economic recession has hit Ireland’s tourism industry hard.

According to Bridey, the owner of the bed and breakfast we stayed at along the Skellig Ring, the number of tourists traveling to Ireland this year has plummeted.

The average number of tour buses driving around the Ring of Kerry this summer is just 20 buses each day, compared to a typical 80 per day, she said. I considered this a blessing as I didn’t want to contend for the roadway with the huge buses, but for the local residents it was undoubtedly a hard hit to the already weakened local economy.

Bridey and her husband Jack first opened the Beach Cove B&B about 6 years ago. Both are originally from Ireland, but they lived in New York for a period of time before moving back home. They moved into their house at Beach Cove about 15 years ago. Bridey said she decided to open up a bed and breakfast after seeing all the cars and tourists stopping by the small beach outside her front door.

Although there's a fair amount of tourist traffic in the area, one of the great parts about Beach Cove is that the huge tour busses that plague the Ring of Kerry aren’t allowed to drive along the Skellig Ring.

The Beach Cove, which Jackie discovered online, is nestled between two “mountains” right along the beach -- hence the name. Skellig Michael, a small, craggy island where the ruins of an ancient monastery reside, can be seen off the coast.

The closest town, with restaurants and a few small shops, is Portmagee. The little fishing village was a great get-away from the bustle of Dublin and Cork.

The area is beautiful, and Bridey and Jack were great hosts. Jackie and I only spent three nights at Beach Cove, but it is one of the places we’ll definitely return to if we get the chance. I’d like to spend a full week in the area in the future.

Braving the roads of Ireland

2009-06-15T06:23:00.006-04:00

Jackie and I left Dublin last Sunday after three nights of recuperating from jet lag. We rented a car to drive around the east coast of Ireland to Cork, the Skellig Ring and then up the west coast to Doolin.

I’ve come to the firm conclusion that renting a car is the best way to see this country. That’s not to say I didn’t have some apprehension about trying to navigate the roads here. I started thinking it was a crazy idea to be renting a car after seeing the traffic in Dublin from a pedestrian’s point of view and how cars and trucks speed around the streets that seemingly have no names. Of course, driving on the opposite side of the road was an added challenge.

When I first got behind the wheel of the red Fiat Punto we were assigned by the car rental agency, I gripped the wheel in anticipation of certain disaster. But driving on the left side of the road, on the passenger’s side of the car and shifting with your left hand (we rented a manual because it’s like half the cost of an automatic) is like writing upside down and backwards -- it takes some time to get used to, but before long you have it down.

So we left Dublin Sunday afternoon and took the scenic route to Cork through the Wicklow region. In most places the roads are barely wide enough for two cars to pass and often times they’re actually too narrow requiring one driver to pull off the road and let the other pass. Throw in dozens of bicyclists and tour buses and you have yourself a dangerously-real video game.

Now, after a week behind the wheel in Ireland I feel like an expert driver, and I’m starting to wonder how long it will take me to get used to driving on the right side again. But ultimately renting a car and driving yourself around Ireland is the way to see this country. I wouldn’t be caught dead on one of the huge tour buses that cart dozens of tourists around and clog up the roads. The buses also aren’t allowed in certain places like the Skellig Ring, which is one of the must see places Jackie and I explored on our drive.

Hello Dublin

2009-06-04T17:33:00.006-04:00

I’ve come to the conclusion two hours of jostled plane-sleep is worse than a completely sleepless night.

Jackie and I arrived in Dublin Thursday at about 9 a.m. (Ireland time) after leaving Boston Wednesday night at 7 a.m. (Eastern time). Now, 10 hours after checking into our hostel (pictured on the left), my head is swirling in a fog of Guinness and exhaustion due to the time adjustment.

Everyone has advice on how to avoid “jet lag,” but I think (and hope) the only real cure is a good night’s sleep, which I fully intend on getting tonight.

After taking a bus from the airport to downtown this morning, we walked around city centre for several hours checking out some of Dublin’s oldest buildings dating back to days of Vikings.

On our explorations, I noticed some boats on wheels rumbling around the city similar to Boston‘s duck tour boats. The main difference seemed to be the image of the ducks emblazoned on the side of the boats/trucks. Unlike Boston’s ducks, which appear splashing in a puddle of water, Dublin’s ducks are decked out in a nifty Viking hat (which everyone on board was also wearing).

The main attraction of the day was the Guinness factory, which has a pretty cool bar with 360-degree views of the city. We also had lunch, and our first pint, at Dublin’s “oldest pub,” The Brazen Head. The place was established in the 12th century, according to the owners.

Tomorrow we're going to the Abbey Theater to see "The Last Days of a Reluctant Tyrant."

I'll upload some pictures when I have a better Internet connection.

All moved out

2009-06-02T09:00:00.003-04:00

So we’ve officially moved out of the tiny one-bedroom, basement apartment we occupied for the past several years. The packing started on Friday, and by Saturday afternoon the 16-foot Penske truck we rented was fully loaded with our worldly possessions.

We’re now spending a few days at my parent’s house in New Hampshire before taking off to Dublin tomorrow.

I’m starting to get considerably excited about our impending trip. Woke up at 7 a.m. today for no apparent reason.

We’re still working on the checklist of items to bring with us. What’s coming clear is that fitting everything us into our packs is going to be tough. But I think that’s part of the fun.

How bad can it get?

2009-05-28T13:38:00.012-04:00

The state of the newspaper industry continues its downward spiral. My former company, GateHouse Media, Inc. announced significant pay cuts to all employees today.

According to friends still working for the company, employee salaries are being cut by an average of about 7 percent. The announcement was made Thursday morning during an all staff meeting.

The mood in the room was one of "quiet resignation," according to one individual at the meeting.

The following is an excerpt from an e-mail sent to employees by GateHouse CEO Rick Daniels.

A MESSAGE FROM RICK DANIELS, CEO/PRESIDENT GHMNE

As we all know too well, the road out of the horrendous economic and advertising slump has been extremely difficult, and yet we have a lot to be proud of on how we have responded. We are still bringing valuable and unique local news, information and advertising to our huge print and digital audiences. Together, we have taken many tough actions that have preserved — and often enhanced — our capabilities, while substantially decreasing GHMNE's structural costs.

Regrettably, we need to share some tough news: Beginning June 1, we will implement a temporary reduction of our salaries and wages. The average GateHouse Massachusetts employee will see a reduction of about 7.75%. If this were to last through the remainder of 2009, the effect would be to reduce 2009 salaries by about 4% — given it is not starting until June. Rates will vary, and will be "progressive" — meaning that higher earnings will be reduced at higher rates. Your supervisor will share your amount with you. All publications and units in Massachusetts are affected by this step. We are sitting down — today — with representatives of our unionized colleagues to start negotiations on this issue. We expect participation from all — fully and soon.

See more here: GateHouse pay cuts

I think possibly the most damaging aspect to the cuts is the hit to employee morale they’ll have (next to the very real impact on every employees' paycheck). The reduction in salary comes on top of a wage freeze enacted last year. That's injury on top of insult.

Sadly, it’s difficult (or nearly impossible) to make a living wage as a journalist these days, at least a journalist for a weekly community newspaper. The one sure thing is you don't become a journalist for the money.

In my experience working for weekly papers, reporters in Massachusetts are paid somewhere between $11 and $13 an hour. It’s tough affording to live in Boston on that wage.

I was told today that I jumped ship at the right time having resigned my staff writer position at The Winchester Star a week ago, but what worries me is the prospect of landing a job at another publication in the future. With cuts like these being made, it’s clear newspapers won’t be hiring any time soon.

A parting gift

2009-05-28T12:01:00.008-04:00

It took me nearly two years, but I finally succeeded.

In my last week as the reporter for The Winchester Star, I received my first parking ticket from the Winchester PD. The ironic part is I was ticketed while in the police station getting the weekly incident reports.

Every Tuesday morning I would trek down to police headquarters on Mt. Vernon Street to get the logs. Usually I would park in a two-hour spot, or in the three-hour parking lot near Town Hall. But on this particular week the annual En Ka Fair had co-opted the entire Town Hall lot, leaving a blight of parking spaces.

After circling like a vulture for a good 20 minutes, I was finally able to grab a space on Main Street. The problem was it was for only 15 minutes.

Of course it took me about 8 times that long to get the police logs, and as I hurried back to my car the orange square of paper could be seen from half a block away jammed under my windshield wiper. Drat!

Somewhere in my delusional mind I had the notion they wouldn’t give me a ticket, especially given the circumstances with the En Ka Fair and all. I was sadly mistaken.

But what’s fair is fair, and the picture attached to this post shall be proof that I paid my $20 ticket.

Travel preparations and planning: A bit of research goes a long way

2009-05-25T22:58:00.019-04:00

Before we finally get on a plane, settle into our seats and breathe a sign of relief, Jackie and I are preparing to move out of the cramped, one-bedroom basement apartment we’ve been confined to for the past three years.

It’s hard to believe two people and a dog can live in such a small space for so long, but somehow we made it work.

We’ll get the last of our stuff boxed up and trucked up to New Hampshire this weekend. Then we’ll drive back up to Boston next Wednesday to catch our flight to Ireland.

Once we land in Dublin we plan to stay at the Kinlay House hostel for a few nights, then we’ll rent a car and drive south and around the coast. A young woman from Prague is hosting us for a couple nights in Cork, and then we have reservations at a small bed and breakfast along the Ring of Kerry.

After Ireland, we take a ferry to Scotland, and a train to London. Belgium and the Netherlands will follow. After that, things are less defined, with the exception of the last week, which we’ll spend in Paris at Le Meridian.

While we’re gone, Edgar, our Boston terrier, will be staying with family. Everything else will be in storage.

Planning and procrastination

For the past several weeks, we (and by we, I mean mainly Jackie – I’m the procrastinator) have been doing some research on things like where to stay, how to get around and which credit cards to take. The Capital One Visa doesn’t have a foreign transaction fee – unlike most other cards – and our American Express Blue could be good for renting bikes in Paris, according to the New York Times Q&A travel blog.

I guess the payment machines used to rent the bikes require credit cards with microchips. Most American cards reportedly don’t have the chips.

We also bought several good books, including the “unofficial guide to European hostels.” The book has a bunch of great reviews of Western European hostels, and breaks down what amenities you can expect upon check in. I remember using a very similar reference guide when I traveled around the U.S. for a year after high school and it was in fact quite useful.

Other than hostels, we plan to crash on couches. We created an account on the Web site CouchSurfing.org. The site is basically a network of travelers from around the world willing to allow you to sleep on their couches for free for up to a couple nights. It seems like a good way to save some money and meet the locals.

The remainder of the trip will be spent at B&B’s and hotels.

As for transportation, rather than buying expensive Eurail passes, which run anywhere from $700 for 15 days to about $2,000 for three months for adults, we’re planning on buying train tickets as needed.

How are we actually paying for this?

With the economy in shambles, and the nationwide unemployment rate rising towards 10 percent, it’s not exactly an ideal time to leave your job and travel for two months. But for the past few years as Jackie completed her graduate degree, we’ve been saving money little by little. Our tiny one-bedroom apartment has actually saved us a lot!

So, we decided now was the best time to use some of our extra cash to travel because frankly we need a break from school and work.

We return to Boston on July 28, when we’ll undoubtedly start the process of hunting down our next cramped apartment – unless of course we decide to extend our trip (If I remember correctly we can transfer our plane tickets for about $120 per person with at least 24-hours notice).

Europe Trip

2009-05-24T18:20:00.006-04:00

View Our Europe Trip in a larger map

I'll try to update this map as we go along. As for now, it is a general list of the places we hope to visit during our two months in Europe. More places will likely be added, others may be eliminated. Check out the full map by clicking on "our Europe trip" and also click on the blue pins to see some more details.

My vacant cubicle

2009-05-24T12:56:00.001-04:00

Deadlines have consumed the past several years of my life. But today I declare there will be no more 14-hour Tuesday’s that bleed into Wednesday’s. No more bleary-eyed, 3 a.m. mornings sitting in front of a computer screen. And with any luck, no more evening meetings that drag on until 11 p.m.

Friday, May 22, was my last day as the staff writer for The Winchester Star. My cubicle is empty, my chair pushed in and all the stray sticky notes have been thrown away.

After somewhere around 90 weeks, 600 stories, and more than 4,000 work hours, I left my position at The Star to meander around Europe for two months with my wife, Jacquelyne, who recently completed her graduate degree at Emerson College. The truth is my company decided I couldn't have a leave of absence, which is why I had to quit. But I prefer the notion that I threw caution to the wind.

For the next two months, I’ll have the freedom and the challenge to write what I choose. And I fully expect it to be more difficult than it currently seems.

Although it may sound like I’m overly excited to be quitting my job, the truth is I know I’ll miss it, along with all the people in Winchester that I met and talked to each week – not to mention my great coworkers in Lexington who made the past two years a blast. But I’ve always been enamored with change, so I’m looking to the future with excitement and optimism.

I thank those of you in Winchester who wished me well and offered me your support in the future. It was unexpected and much appreciated. There were many more of you who I was unable to talk to before I left. I thank you as well.

My news videos

2009-05-23T13:13:00.005-04:00

Story: Gas takes a back seat: Electricity alone will drive this chopped up truck

Story: Fire guts home on Mystic Valley Parkway

Story: Crusty Bliss: Mamadou's manufactures sweet aroma

Story: Blaze rages in Winchester home; two firefighters hospitalized

Story: Silver-winning Sacramone greeted by town-wide hero's welcome

Story: Fire's 1,000 degree temperatures warped residents' belongings while they vacationed

Story: The Greek Grille: Getting freaky with tatziki

Story: Tall order for a short chef

Story: 'Shoe Doctor' among last of dying breed

Story: Car swerves getting on seasoned biker's nerves

Resume

2009-05-23T08:18:00.042-04:00

Work Experience
(Sept. 2009 – present) – Trainee: David and Sam PR, Phoenix, Ariz.
• Copy edit and draft marketing materials and press releases for client accounts including Dunkin’ Donuts and Sojourner Center, the largest domestic violence shelter in the country.
• Key team member focused on building internal and external social media campaigns and improving SEO.
• Participate in creative marketing brainstorming sessions.
• Perform basic office administrative tasks including answering phones, organizing calendars with Microsoft Entourage, creating Excel spreadsheets and ordering office supplies.

(April 2007 – May 2009) – Staff Writer/Contributor: GateHouse Media New England, Inc.
General Assignment Reporter: The Winchester Star, Winchester Mass. (Aug. 2007 – May 2009)
• Produced news coverage for the print and online versions of the newspaper as well as short Web videos and photos to accompany articles.
• Maintained a blog related to local news and events and created daily content for the newspaper’s Web site integral to increasing traffic to the site by about 30 percent (based on monthly page views) in first full year of employment.
General Assignment Reporter: The Shrewsbury Chronicle, Shrewsbury, Mass. (April 2007 – Aug. 2007)
• Reported on breaking news, features, local government and regional stories.
• Helped rebuild the newspaper’s relationship with the local police department, resulting in arrest and incident reports being e-mailed directly to the newspaper on a weekly basis.
Staff Contributor: The MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, Mass. (April 2007 – Aug. 2007)
• Covered regional stories including meetings, breaking news, education issues, features and crime.
• Produced a front-page story highlighting the need for healthy school lunches and the steps being taken by a local school district to provide students with alternatives to traditional food choices.

(May 2006 – April 2007) – Staff Writer/Contributor: Stonebridge Press, Southbridge, Mass.
General Assignment Reporter: The Auburn News, Auburn, Mass. (May 2006 – April 2007)
• Produced 8-10 stories a week including features, news and business profiles. Took all photos to accompany articles.
• Covered stories including the election of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, the construction of the town’s new high school and the drowning death of a young boy and his father in a local pond.
Staff Contributor: The Southbridge Evening News, Southbridge, Mass. (May 2006 – April 2007)
• Provided breaking news and regional coverage as needed.
• Reported on a string of emergency school lockdowns caused by students bringing ammunition to school.

(Aug. 2004 – May 2006) – Intern, Contributor, Freelancer: Various locations
• Interned with The Noise, a monthly news and arts magazine based in Flagstaff, Ariz., during final semester of undergraduate degree. Became a regular contributor producing news stories, photos and columns from August 2004 to August 2005.
• Contributed stories on assignment and independently for Toward Freedom, an online news magazine based in Burlington, Vt.

Education
B.S. Journalism, minor: philosophy, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.

Volunteer Work
(Sept. 2009 – present) – KJZZ/KBAQ, Phoenix’s National Public Radio stations, 2323 W. 14th St., Tempe, Ariz.: Copy edit the monthly e-newsletter. Answered phones during the fall pledge drive and helped with the annual fundraiser.
(Nov. 2008 – Dec. 2008) – Mission of Deeds, 6 Chapin Road, Reading, Mass.: Helped collect and deliver furniture donations to needy families in the Boston area.

Skills
• Professional writer and editor with superb attention to detail.
• Interactive journalism: blogging, video production, photography and writing for the Web.
• Video editing using Windows Movie Maker and iMovie.
• Well-versed in social media Web sites including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Basic Photoshop image editing.
• Dependable meeting daily, weekly and long-term deadlines.
• Capable of fulfilling numerous responsibilities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Thorough knowledge of AP style.
• Strong research skills and news judgment.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
• Focused on presenting news and information dynamically using alternative formats.
• Commitment to journalism ethics and accuracy.

Training and Coursework
• New England Newspaper Association workshop for weeklies and small dailies led by former New York Times reporter, Rosalie Stemer.
• Regular professional development meetings with peer reporters and editors.
• Video and editing training by GateHouse Media, Inc.
• Media writing and reporting
• Advanced reporting
• Communication analysis
• Basic editing
• Feature writing
• Pubic affairs reporting
• Humor writing
• Critical and analytical reporting
• Mass communication law and ethics