EXPERIENCE
CROSS-GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 2017 - PRESENT
Writing stories for an internal audience — for all 27,000 employees within Alberta's public service. I get a chance to keep those employees engaged by writing, interviewing, using video, and photography to share stories about their amazing co-workers. I also do stories about innovation that's happening within Alberta's public service, along with new programs that are being offered to employees. Not only do I get a chance to dabble in internal-brand journalism, I also do speaking and briefing notes for Alberta's Public Service Commission.
MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST (FIVE-MONTH POSITION)
NORTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (NAIT)
AUGUST 2016 - JANUARY 2017
Worked with a team of communication leaders to produce content — stories, videos and photos — about NAIT, its experts, its students and how its alumni is making an impact in their communities. In this temporary role I was able to promote a number of compelling stories and events about the polytechnic and its students to media. To see stories, click here.
MEDIA SPECIALIST
THE LUNG ASSOCIATION, ALBERTA & NWT
NOVEMBER 2013 - JUNE 2016
Responsible for all internal and external communications for this charity organization that promotes the importance of lung health across Alberta and the Northwest Territories. To see stories, click here.
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST & NIGHT CITY EDITOR
THE EDMONTON SUN
AUGUST 2010 - NOVEMBER 2013
Managed a crew of reporters on weekends and when the night city editor was on vacation from the Edmonton Sun's city desk. I filed stories, video, story webhits and used Twitter to tell stories through the Edmonton Sun's Twitter account and through my own personal account at @JS_Cummings. To see stories, click here.
SENIOR REPORTER
METRO NEWS EDMONTON
MARCH 2007 - JUNE 2010
Covered several beats — including provincial politics — for this busy free daily newspaper. Along with telling stories for this Torstar-owned paper, I also did some photography work and managed the newsroom when the managing editor was away on vacation.
ROUTE LEADER
1-800-GOT-JUNK
APRIL 2006 - MARCH 2007
Managed a small group of employees for a junk removal service and was responsible for the business's entire operations in northwest Calgary. I was also responsible for marketing strategies in my area to boost sales, along with establishing a strong client list.
SENIOR WRITER
KOOCANUSA PUBLICATIONS
MARCH 2004 - JUNE 2006
Solely in charge of creating content for a number of magazines for this small company in Cranbrook, B.C. It churned out publications to a distribution that includes all of Western Canada. These magazines focused on small business, forestry, mining, RVing, golfing, skiing, ATVing, and tourism.
EDITOR
VULCAN ADVOCATE
JULY 2002 - JANUARY 2004
In charge of a small newsroom along with covering a number of beats — including agriculture and sports — for this small community newspaper north of Lethbridge. I also used design software to enhance the look and feel of the newspaper, as well as doing some photography work to help tell stories.
CROSS-GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 2017 - PRESENT
Writing stories for an internal audience — for all 27,000 employees within Alberta's public service. I get a chance to keep those employees engaged by writing, interviewing, using video, and photography to share stories about their amazing co-workers. I also do stories about innovation that's happening within Alberta's public service, along with new programs that are being offered to employees. Not only do I get a chance to dabble in internal-brand journalism, I also do speaking and briefing notes for Alberta's Public Service Commission.
MEDIA RELATIONS SPECIALIST (FIVE-MONTH POSITION)
NORTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (NAIT)
AUGUST 2016 - JANUARY 2017
Worked with a team of communication leaders to produce content — stories, videos and photos — about NAIT, its experts, its students and how its alumni is making an impact in their communities. In this temporary role I was able to promote a number of compelling stories and events about the polytechnic and its students to media. To see stories, click here.
MEDIA SPECIALIST
THE LUNG ASSOCIATION, ALBERTA & NWT
NOVEMBER 2013 - JUNE 2016
Responsible for all internal and external communications for this charity organization that promotes the importance of lung health across Alberta and the Northwest Territories. To see stories, click here.
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST & NIGHT CITY EDITOR
THE EDMONTON SUN
AUGUST 2010 - NOVEMBER 2013
Managed a crew of reporters on weekends and when the night city editor was on vacation from the Edmonton Sun's city desk. I filed stories, video, story webhits and used Twitter to tell stories through the Edmonton Sun's Twitter account and through my own personal account at @JS_Cummings. To see stories, click here.
SENIOR REPORTER
METRO NEWS EDMONTON
MARCH 2007 - JUNE 2010
Covered several beats — including provincial politics — for this busy free daily newspaper. Along with telling stories for this Torstar-owned paper, I also did some photography work and managed the newsroom when the managing editor was away on vacation.
ROUTE LEADER
1-800-GOT-JUNK
APRIL 2006 - MARCH 2007
Managed a small group of employees for a junk removal service and was responsible for the business's entire operations in northwest Calgary. I was also responsible for marketing strategies in my area to boost sales, along with establishing a strong client list.
SENIOR WRITER
KOOCANUSA PUBLICATIONS
MARCH 2004 - JUNE 2006
Solely in charge of creating content for a number of magazines for this small company in Cranbrook, B.C. It churned out publications to a distribution that includes all of Western Canada. These magazines focused on small business, forestry, mining, RVing, golfing, skiing, ATVing, and tourism.
EDITOR
VULCAN ADVOCATE
JULY 2002 - JANUARY 2004
In charge of a small newsroom along with covering a number of beats — including agriculture and sports — for this small community newspaper north of Lethbridge. I also used design software to enhance the look and feel of the newspaper, as well as doing some photography work to help tell stories.
EDUCATION
Two year diploma, Journalism Arts from 1998 to 2000. Graduated in May 2000.