4411 46 St., Des Moines, IA 50310 347-455-5956 chrispratt2008@gmail.

com

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CHRISTOPHER PRATT
http://christopherprattnet.wordpress.com/

EDUCATION Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, December 2009

Master of Arts in Journalism, 3.5 grade point average Thesis: Martin Luther King, Chicagos archdiocese and the struggle for racial justice

Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, May 2004

Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies Minor: Political Science

EXPERIENCE Binder & Binder, Intake Specialist / Newsletter Writer, New York, NY, October 2010 - June 2012
* Interviewed more than 1,000 clients for the national Social Security Disability advocates; spoke with people about their work histories, their health challenges, and their struggles to understand a complex legal process * Explained regulations of the government program to clients, both through in-person and phone consultations * Wrote marketing material for the company newsletter: profiled attorneys and clients

The Gazette / KCRG, Mobile Journalist Intern, Cedar Rapids, IA, May 2010 - September 2010
* Functioned as a public safety reporter for eastern Iowas most recognized news outlet * Wrote and shot photographs for more than 100 breaking news and general assignment stories, for print and online audiences, and then efficiently updated the content to multiple Web sites * Shot and edited video for segments on the television newscast * Monitored the police scanner; reported on public safety agencies; cultivated a network of community sources

The Chicago Reporter, Intern, Chicago, IL, September 2009 - December 2009
* Wrote stories and blogs related to the issues of race and poverty for the bimonthly magazine * Fact-checked feature stories and daily blogs for reporters and editors * Received data analysis training from award-winning investigative reporters * Updated the Web site with fresh content, using WordPress and Movable Type

The Urban Coaster, Intern, Chicago, IL, June 2009 - August 2009
* Wrote enterprise stories about public affairs issues in the Rogers Park neighborhood * Built a network of sources; developed stories by speaking with politicians, experts and activists * Contributed photos and wrote captions that appeared in print and online versions of the newspaper

Blackstone Rangers Book Project, Researcher, Chicago, IL, March 2009 - December 2009
* Researched primary source documents in libraries and archives for The Rise, Fall, and Resurgence of an American Gang, authored by Natalie Moore, a Chicago Public Radio reporter * Completed interviews and took pictures for the book, which profiled prominent gang leader, Jeff Fort * Wrote Freedom of Information Act requests to the FBI to obtain relevant public affairs information

Best Buddies International, Program Manager, Chicago, IL, September 2006 - August 2008
* Worked to enhance the lives of people with developmental disabilities by matching them in friendships with volunteers who dont have disabilities * Recruited and retained more than 25 new volunteers; recruited online with VolunteerMatch and Craigslist * Communicated monthly with more than 100 participants involved in the one-to-one friendship program * Detailed progress of the program through monthly and biannual reports, which were reviewed by the Chairman

AmeriCorps, Literacy Instructor, Chicago, IL, September 2005 - August 2006

* Taught citizenship classes to immigrants studying to become naturalized citizens * Served as a teacher to small groups of students preparing for the GED certificate exam and immigrants studying English as a Second Language (ESL) * Completed a 1700-hour commitment in the field of adult literacy, including 1000 hours of classroom instruction

U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, Press Intern, Washington, DC, May 2002 - July 2002
* Responsible for contacting media to schedule interviews with the senator * Assembled a daily set of press clippings important to the senator, his staff, and constituents * Wrote press releases regarding grant recipients

COMPUTER AND WEB SKILLS

* Proficient with Microsoft Office, Abode Photoshop, WordPress, GarageBand, iMovie, LexisNexis and NewsBank