JOHN D. HOLLIS

**** ******* **** • College Park, GA 30349

404-***-**** • acu0tt@r.postjobfree.com

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-hollis/b/411/83b

Details-driven professional eager to contribute strong Journalism and Community Relations expertise toward supporting a public-sector organization in optimizing communications success.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs, 1990 UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

PROFILE

• Expert at collecting and analyzing comprehensive information about newsworthy events for publication through well-honed interview skills, as well as proactively receiving / evaluating assignments and adhering to all set operational deadlines.

• Expert at crafting concise, yet effective messages necessary for communications success.

• Contribute exceptional information gathering and verification talents regarding various stories through keen observation skills, resourceful interviewing abilities, and high-quality research techniques.

• Display outstanding materials organization to include aptly determining necessary points-of-emphasis while effectively authoring materials according to accepted Associated Press editorial styles and/or standardized formats.

• Current voter for the Naismith Award that goes to college basketball’s National Player of the Year.

• Member of the National Association of Black Journalists; member of the Atlanta Press Club.

• Board of Directors, Woodberry Forest School Regional Association of Atlanta.

• Planning Committee, Sgt. Rodney M. Davis Memorial Scholarship.

KEY PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Author of “The Making of a Hero: The Life and Death of Sgt. Rodney M. Davis.” The soon-to-be-released book is a powerful story of honor, courage and commitment as seen in the inspirational life and death of Macon, Georgia’s only Medal of Honor recipient.

Author of “Wrestling with the Devil,” a stirring memoir on/with former professional wrestling great Lex Luger. The book was released in fall 2013 to strong commercial reviews.

Author of “Life in the Paint: The Story of a Black Man Fighting for his Identity.” The well-received autobiographical narrative/social commentary on racial identity was released in late 2009.

Served as Lead Reporter in the 2007 double murder / suicide coverage of WWE Professional Wrestler Chris Benoit, along with reporting on the rare loss of school accreditation in Clayton County, Georgia.

Covered five college basketball Final Fours, the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, the NFL, the NBA, major college football and basketball within the SEC and ACC, the College World Series and numerous other high school, college and professional sports.

PROFESSIONAL SYNOPSIS

Freelance Writer/Author, ATLANTA, 2009– PRESENT

• Contribute proven writing skills to various publications in the metro Atlanta area and national ones as well while writing two books. Covered 2013 men’s college basketball Final Four in Atlanta.

Writer, U.S. MARINE CORPS PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE, QUANTICO, VA AUGUST 2014-APRIL 2015

• Contributed proven writing, interviewing and editing skills to the U.S. Marine Corps Public Affairs Office at Marine Corps Base Quantico, located just outside Washington, D.C. Duties included writing daily stories for the base newspaper and website that promote the U.S. Marine Corps and consistent interaction with base senior leadership and key civilian officials about a variety of topics.

Atlanta Correspondent (Part-Time), TIME MAGAZINE, ATLANTA, GA 2004 – 2011

• Apply dynamic writing talents toward providing key correspondence activities for a premiere national magazine to include covering breaking political, sports, economic, and social news while maintaining superior journalistic integrity.

Sports Writer and News Reporter, THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, ATLANTA, GA 2000 – 2009

• Demonstrate extensive local area expertise toward covering newsworthy metro Atlanta-based events in coordination with set individual- and team-driven deadlines and supportive of comprehensive organizational standards.

• Author and edit diverse prep / professional sports articles to include providing targeted information concerning Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons, and Georgia Tech football and men’s basketball events.

• Served as Metro news reporter from 2007-2009, covering local, state and national politics and metropolitan Atlanta news.

Sports Writer, THE GAINESVILLE SUN, GAINESVILLE, FL 1997 – 2000

• Contributed primary writing efforts for the University of Florida’s men’s basketball team to include providing relevant daily coverage and insightful feature articles.

• Traveled with the team to various collegiate venues and proficiently covered additional sports (i.e. football) as necessary.

Writer, CNN, ATLANTA, GA 1996 – 1997

• Strategically steered the research and preparation of copy for a start-up CNN-based Sports Illustrated sports show to include liaising among high-profile anchors and producers which ensured seamless nationwide daily sports coverage.

Sports Writer, THE POTOMAC NEWS, WOODBRIDGE, VA 1992 – 1996

Contributed primary writing, interviewing and editing skills towards daily coverage of high school, college and professional sports. Served as the newspaper’s beat writer covering the NFL’s Washington Redskins and also covered Super Bowl XXX in Arizona and the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games.

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