BENJAMIN FELDHEIM

10208 W. 151st St. Orland Park, IL 60462

847.989.1598 bafeldheim@gmail.com
Professional multi-platform writing and editing
Journalistic reporting and research

SKILLS & EXPERTISE

Content management (Wordpress, Ektron, Patch.com)
Interpersonal communication

Web video and photo production (iMovie)

Team management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PATCH.COM
Orland Park, IL
Local Editor
June 2010Jan. 2014

Launched Orland Park Patch.com; built to an average 60,000 unique visitors a month and among top 25 out of 900+ sites for traffic, engagement and return viewers

Reported on the town, presenting findings with words, video, databases, lists, tables, photos, live blogs of meetings and events, and looking for new methods

Managed social media updates and implemented strategy that increased Facebook followers by 300 percent within six months

Edited work from a team of freelancers, managing their payments, moderate site comments, assisting readers with site features and maintain expenses budget

Built comprehensive business directory in two months of about 1,600 listings with new photos and up-to-date information on services, payments and contact

Developed outreach and awareness efforts through original contests, area events participation, public presentations and visiting site demonstrations

Established network of bloggers writing on a range of topics, copyedited the posts and made final decisions on publishing

Served on election committee, creating models for candidate information databases, coverage guides for staff and results tables
TOTAL ATTORNEYS
Chicago, IL
Consumer Advocate/Blog Author
July 2009June 2010

Produced blog posts about a charity supporting women in Uganda who escaped sex slavery, and about relevant law issues in injury and criminal cases

Built web multimedia presentations for blog posts using originally-shot video and still photos, and editing with effects and soundtracks

Designed a workflow to create custom content for individual attorneys web sites, and administered updates with the Ektron CMS

Facilitated communication between attorneys and people in search of legal help facing divorce, criminal charges and bankruptcy

Wrote scripts and contributed accompanying visual art for web commercials that highlight law practice areas
KISHWAUKEE EDUCATION CONSORTIUM
Malta, IL
Alternative Education Instructor
Dec 2008July 2009

Developed adjustable English and history curricula for at-risk teens and other students with incomplete academic experience between ages 12 and 19

Produced and edited multimedia presentations for class studies and assignments using PowerPoint

Resolved varying conflicts between students, often stemming from difficult home life, drug use and learning difficulties

Assisted graduating students with college applications and career decisions

Wrote articles highlighting vocational programs offered at the school and pitched story ideas to local publications that led to coverage
DAILY CHRONICLE
DeKalb, IL
Staff Writer
Feb 2007Nov 2008

Reported on the Northern Illinois University shooting on scene minutes afterward, the subsequent investigation and local impact in following weeks

Covered health, police, courts and government across 100,000+ population county; tracked over 30 active court cases and wrote daily police blotter

Wrote deeply researched front page features about uncommon issues, people and practices, such as autism, dirt bikers and homebuilt airplane pilots

Managed weekly arts and entertainment section front page, with full autonomy to choose topics, write stories and select art

Produced web updates with text and photo, and used newspapers Townnews CMS to update the site during breaking news events
ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE
Editorial Intern

Researched potential article subjects for editors, such as a killer in Europe who tried to mimic the Scream films

Assembled a database of over 1,000 record label and celebrity media contacts

Produced daily current events review packets for staff, and arranged interviews with celebrities and musicians

New York, NY
June 2002August 2002

FREELANCE EXPERIENCE
TATTOOS AND TEQUILA: VINCE NEIL AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Contributing Writer

Researched and wrote cultural analysis about Mtley Cres place in rock music between the 1980s and today for lead singers autobiography

Chicago, IL
Dec 2009

PRINTDOG, LLC
Chicago, IL
Content Creator/Site Manager
Nov 2009June 2010

Created all content and edited photos for large format print business web site, assisted designer with overall concept and administered updates
CHICAGO TRIBUNE, RELIX MAGAZINE, CHICAGO RED EYE, CU CITYVIEW, INDY NUVO
Multiple locations
Contributing Writer
Nov 2002Feb 2007

Wrote features, news stories, profiles and interview pieces, as well as album and show reviews, for newspapers, alt. weeklies and a national magazine
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, URBANA/CHAMPAIGN
Master of Science in Public Affairs Journalism
Bachelor of Science in News Editorial Journalism

Urbana/Champaign, IL
Aug 2004
June 2003

AWARDS
Peter Lisagor Awards for Journalism Excellence

Finalist Business Reporting Series: Online

Illinois Associated Press Editors Association

1st Place Investigative Journalism, 2nd Place Deadline News, 3rd Place Entertainment and Spot News
Northern Illinois Newspaper Association

1st Place News Series (Staff), 2nd Place Religion Reporting and Spot News, Honorable Mentions Community Service and News Series
Illinois Press Association

2nd Place Feature Writing and Single News Story, 3rd Place News Reporting Series (Staff)
INTERESTS
Drums and percussion, experimental video, playing and attending live music, travel, cooking, politics, humor

2012
2007 & 2008
2007 & 2008
2007 & 2008