Jessie

911 Old M arion Road

Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402

Hellmann

TWITTER
@jessiehellmann

WEBSITE
jhellmann.com

E-MAIL
jessie.hellmann@gmail.com

CELL PHONE
319-432-4018

E X P E R I E N C E
The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Reporter, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

June 2015 present

Assisted in covering the 2016 Iowa Caucuses 2016 including the Democratic Hall of Fame and visits from Hillary
Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin OMalley and many from the Republican field of candidates.
Part of The Gazettes Factchecker team, which checks statements made by presidential candidates and Iowa
politicians.
Covered city government in Marion, Iowa, and issues affecting its citizens.

Chicago Tribune, Statehouse reporter, Springfield, Illinois

January June 2015

Covered the 2015 session of the Illinois General Assembly for the print edition of the Chicago Tribune and the
Clout Street blog via live Twitter updates and video.
Explored legislation and crafted in-depth articles with context and data; monitored the House of Representatives
and Senate for interesting and relevant stories.

Kenosha News, Intern, Kenosha, Wisconsin

May August 2014

Acted as a general assignment reporter. Recorded standups and voiceovers for kenoshanews.com.
Wrote several human-interest stories, including an article about an adult with severe autism who learned to
communicate by playing piano.

Evansville Courier & Press, Metro & Features intern, Evansville, Indiana August 2013 May 2014
Acted as a general assignment reporter, covering local events, education, features and created videos.
Followed a local universitys struggle with a proposed gay marriage ban in Indiana that was picked up by the
Associated Press and other media outlets.

Kokomo Tribune, HSPA Eugene S. Pulliam intern, Kokomo, Indiana

May August 2013

Covered general assignment stories including education and local events.

Completed a summer-long enterprise story about the struggles of undocumented students in Kokomo, which
won an SPJ Mark of Excellence award.

The Shield at USI, News Editor, Evansville, Indiana

August 2011 May 2013

Covered and live-tweeted various meetings including student government, board of trustees and faculty senate.
Wrote several investigative pieces about representation in student government and lack of diversity on campus.

EDUCATION

Master of Arts, Public Affairs Reporting

2014-2015

Bachelor of Science, Journalism

2010-2014

University of Illinois Springfield, Illinois

University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana

Honors & Awards

Recipient of the Illinois Press Foundation scholarship 2014

Recipient of the Robert P. Herman scholarship - 2014
Society of Professional Journalists Region 5 Mark of Excellence award for in-depth reporting - 2013
Indiana Collegiate Press Association 1st & 2nd place for breaking news reporting, 3rd place for best sports
feature 2013
Indiana Collegiate Press Association 1st place for in-depth news reporting, 1st place for best non-deadline
news reporting 2012
Indiana Collegiate Press Association 3rd place for best non-deadline news story, 3rd place for best news
feature 2011

References

Monique Garcia, Statehouse reporter, Chicago Tribune, 312-912-3968
Charlie Wheeler, Director, Public Affairs Reporting program at the University of Illinois, 217-206-7494.
Erin Gibson, adviser to The Shield at USI, 812-454-6312