Karlie Baker

1019 S. Oakley St. Chicago IL, 60612

815-343-6332
karlieabaker@gmail.com
Work Experience
Intern, Lisa Madigan for Attorney General Chicago, Illinois May 2010-current
Assist with research for use in public appearances, fundraising and creation of supplementary materials. Supervisor: Libby Prakel.

Contributor, Flavorpill Chicago Chicago, Illinois June 2009-December 2009

Weekly write-ups (90-125 words) of Chicago cultural events ranging from farmer’s markets to music festivals. Editor: Stephen
Gossett.

Intern, The A.V. Club/Decider Chicago Chicago, Illinois October 2008-December 2008
Updated weekly calendars and restaurant entries for online and print, wrote reviews of local performances, prepared transcripts and
assisted staffers in research and communication. Editors: David Wolinsky and Emily Withrow.

Freelance Writer, LaSalle Daily NewsTribune LaSalle, Illinois June 2008-August 2008
Conducted research and interviews, wrote news stories, adhered to deadlines. Editor: Linda Kleckzewski.

Contributing Opinion Columnist, The Times Ottawa, Illinois May 2007-October 2007
Submitted opinion columns on a topic of my choosing every other week. Supervisor: Don Hrabel.

Press Release Writer, Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby, Illinois February 2007-May 2008
Gathered information, conducted interviews and wrote press releases, filing work, faxed outgoing messages, archived college-related
press, kept communication between various departments and Public Relations. Supervisor: Valery Calvetti.

Editor; Opinion Editor, IV Leader Oglesby, Illinois September 2006-May 2008

Created story lists, proofread articles, assigned stories, ensured deadlines were met, laid out pages, conducted interviews, wrote
editorials, took photos. Advisor: Lori Cinotte.
Personal awards: First Place, 2008, ICCJA Features; First Place, 2008, ICCJA News; Second Place, 2008, ICCJA Editorial; Honorable
Mention, 2008, ICCJA Arts; Second Place, 2008, ICCJA Computer Graphics; Third Place, 2007, ICCJA Features.

Education
August 2008-May 2010, Columbia College Chicago Chicago, Illinois
B.A. in Magazine Journalism, minor in Creative Nonfiction. Dean’s List, Recipient of 2009-2010 John Fischetti Scholarship, winning
essay in Journalism department on The Omnivore’s Dilemma, February 2009.

June 2006-May 2008 Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby, Illinois

Associate of Arts, Associate of Science
Phi Theta Kappa member; Magna Cum Laude; recipient of Gladys Koehler Memorial Scholarship and Nora and Mennow P. Smith
Scholarship; two-year recipient of talent tuition waiver in journalism.

Activities
Thomas Wetzel and Associates Social media focus group, March 2010
Assisted in research of social media web sites and their uses to insurance businesses for the insurance consulting firm.

Silvertongue’s Elevated Diction Reader, May 2009-current

Silvertongue is Columbia College Chicago’s reading series which presents original works of “nano- fiction” (up to 60 words) in
campus elevators at campus events. Also published sample in Silvertongue’s “Mad Licks” anthology.

River Currents literary magazine Contributor, 2008

Teen Trib/Word Contributing writer, September 2003-September 2007; Advising Board 2006-2007.
Personal Awards: Best Feature, fall 2003; Best Opinion Column, spring 2004.

Skills
Proficient in Microsoft Works Word Processor, Quark, Page Maker 6 and Adobe Photoshop; experience with both Windows and Mac
platforms; some work with In Design; knowledge of AP style and copyediting symbols; prior work with CMS; basic knowledge of
iMovie; basic movie and audio editing skills; excellent researching skills; extensive transcription and fact-checking experience; ability
to work under deadlines, and organize a number of people.
Publications
Chicago Talks. 8 Dec 2009. Evasive State Legislators Dodge Questions About Scholarships: investigative story, part of a news
package with Illinois Statehouse News, exploring the Illinois General Assembly Scholarship. Republished on Illinois Statehouse
News, Windy Citizen, Prorepublica and Beachwood Reporter web sites. The package won first place in online news reporting by the
Society of Professional Journalists of Region 5 and a Peter Lisagor Award for online investigative reporting.
Flavorpill Chicago. June 2009-current. Short write-ups detailing various cultural events around Chicago. Samples upon request.
Decider Chicago. September 2008-December 2008. A feature on election day freebies, as well as recaps of musical performances by
Calexico and Deerhoof.
LaSalle Daily NewsTribune. 8 July 2008. LaSalle County 4-Hers ready to shine, an account of 4-H members preparing for local fair.
LaSalle Daily NewsTribune. 1 July 2008. Educational opportunities plentiful in Illinois Valley: an overview of area high schools and
community colleges.
IV Leader. September 2007-May 2008. Various editorials, feature stories, news articles, arts reviews, opinion columns and design.
Samples upon request.
The Times. May 2007-October 2007. Write Team, a twice-monthly opinion column on any topic of choice. Samples upon request.
Teen Trib/Word. September 2003-September 2007. Various feature stories, news articles, music reviews, photos and mock
horoscopes. Samples upon request.

References
Suzanne McBride Associate Chair of the Journalism Department, Columbia College Chicago
33. E. Congress, Room 201C
Chicago, IL
312-369-8907
smcbride@colum.edu

Valery Calvetti Former Director of Community Relations and Marketing, Illinois Valley Community College
Currently Project Success counselor
815 N. Orlando Smith Rd., Room E-301
Oglesby, IL
815-224-0592
valery_calvetti@ivcc.edu

Lori Cinotte Professor of English and Journalism, IV Leader Advisor, Illinois Valley Community College
815 N. Orlando Smith Rd., Room B-320
Oglesby, IL
815-224-0289
lori_cinotte@ivcc.edu

Linda Kleczewski Editor, LaSalle Daily NewsTribune

426 2nd St.
LaSalle, IL
815-223-3200 ext. 140
ntnews@newstrib.com