News Reporter Martial Arts

*

Rajika Jayatilake – consistent winner in outcome-oriented writing/editing,

awareness-creation, media relations and media advocacy Derwood, MD 20855 C. 240-***-**** adms66@r.postjobfree.com WRITER/EDITOR & MEDIA RELATIONS PROFESSIONAL skilled at developing, executing, and disseminating compelling communications campaigns. Able to consistently raise awareness, build reputation, fight disinformation, and build long-term relationships.

OBJECTIVE: To use my extensive writing/editing skills to produce quality, nuanced content for organizations, and to use to advantage, my journalistic capabilities in building and nurturing effective media relations. ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Helped transform Sri Lanka’s international image in the US and Thailand and countered disinformation by spearheading a strategic communications campaign, through positive media attention by forging relationships with key media personnel and civil society organizations and through writing/editing skills

• Helped international understanding of terrorist tactics with research reports for Potomac Institute of Policy Studies, Political Department of University of Chicago and Special Readiness Services International

• Propelled difficult policy changes on tobacco control in India, Bangladesh, Philippines and Sri Lanka with compelling messages leading to articles and TV clips on tobacco's global health harms

• Creating high-quality content as a ghostwriter, with articles published on Ivy League college blogs and other prestigious websites.

• Initiated new business development for Sri Lanka in Thailand through networking with government and corporate sectors of both countries and with project impact communications material; helped forge relationships to diversify Sri Lanka’s export industry into Thailand

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Strategic Communications

Journalism/Writing/Editing

Story-telling skills

Proofreading

Transcribing

Research

Media Relations/ Media Advocacy

Relationship building

Community Outreach

Cultural Awareness/ sensitivity

Capacity building/mentoring

Event planning and management

Project Management

Translating/interpreting

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

SENIOR WRITER/EDITOR - DERWOOD, MARYLAND Current

• Content writer for digital PR agency Reputio (Since 2017)

• Writer for bridge inspection company Infrastructure Preservation Corporation in Florida (Since 2017)

• Writer for writing services company Simply Affirm

• Monthly columnist for Lanka Monthly Digest

• Temporary assignment focused on reviewing grant applications with the Office of Violence Against Women. KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN EMBASSY - WASHINGTON DC METRO AREA 3/2019 - to 6/2020 DIRECTOR PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH

• Researched security-related issues and drafted reports, chapter publications.

• Wrote press releases, speeches for the Security Attaché and the Ambassador, created bios of law makers, and government and law enforcement officials, backgrounders and talking points.

• Wrote, reviewed, edited, fact-checked and proofread reports and transformed technical prose into non-technical content.

• Enhanced the quality of work of the office by presenting polished, readable documents, reports and publications. WRITER/EDITOR/ PROJECT RESEARCHER – DERWOOD, MARYLAND 7/2013 to 2/2019

• Linguistic work for the University of Pennsylvania and Linguistic Data Consortium 2

• Research and writing for Infrastructure Preservation Corporation and Reputio.

• English/Sinhalese interpreter at State-Department sponsored and other events and projects

• Monthly columnist in Lanka Monthly Digest

• Researching and writing biography of an American who achieved the American dream CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS (CTFK) – WASHINGTON DC 4/2011 to 7/2013 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

• Managed media advocacy programs for tobacco law amendment in India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Egypt, and Sri Lanka

• Developed messages and strategic communications plans for individual countries.

• Provided technical assistance in media relations and media advocacy to contractors and grantees

• Conducted training workshops to build capacity among local journalists in these countries.

• Developed sophisticated project communications material, wrote donor reports and human-interest write-ups

• Managed diverse cross functional relationships

• Established national and international media relationships. Achieved compelling articles in AP, AFP, Reuters etc. PROJECT RESEARCHER, WRITER/EDITOR – BETHESDA, MARYLAND 8/2008 to 4/2011

• Researched and created content for a chapter on Sri Lanka’s Black Tiger Suicide Bombers for Dr. Robert Pape’s publication

"Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop It" in the Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism (CPOST)

• Researching, writing and editing information on post-conflict Sri Lanka to integrate information for development projects

• Translated a novel and a short story by a popular Sri Lankan novelist, from Sinhalese to English EMBASSY OF SRI LANKA – WASHINGTON DC 8/2006 to 8/2008 COUNSELOR (INFORMATION)

• Devised and implemented strategic communications plans to counter misinformation and to protect Sri Lanka’s reputation and image

• Established and nurtured relationships with journalists and editors of strategic print and electronic media in the U.S.

• Developed sophisticated content for Embassy website and monthly Embassy Newsletter

• Wrote press releases, speeches for Ambassador and visiting VIPS, articles, op-eds and Letters to the Editor.

• Arranged press interviews, and media briefings for Ambassador, visiting VIPS, officials and subject matter experts

• Handled breaking news and crisis situations as point of contact for media.

• Planned, organized and managed large events at the Embassy

• Created a dynamic network of Sri Lankan Americans to communicate with lawmakers in strategic states in the U.S. RICHEY INTERNATIONAL – CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND 5/2005 to 7/2006 EDITOR

• Edited survey reports on hotels around the world, for consistency, accuracy, and sophisticated language and presentation

• Wrote Best Practices articles for hotel management

• Conducted internet research on hospitality industry, and maintained databases of clients

• Produced quarterly in-house newsletter to increase connectivity among staff EDUCATIONAL FUNDING COMPANY – CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND 4/2003 to 12/2004 SENIOR WRITER/EDITOR

• Created readable, interesting and informative articles on martial arts by interviewing senior martial artistes.

• Created a monthly internal newsletter for corporate offices in the US, UK and Australia SPECIAL READINESS SERVICES INTERNATIONAL (SRSI) – WASHINGTON DC 9/2002 to 4/2003 COUNTER TERRORISM RESEARCH MANAGER

• Conducted internet research, produced reports and edited counter-terrorism training publications and other SRSI terrorism- related publications such as The Terrorism Recognition Handbook

• Wrote technical reports and less-technical articles for diverse audiences.

• Helped develop "incident database" for reports and studies and built national and international contacts 3

EMBASSY OF SRI LANKA – WASHINGTON DC 3/2000 to 9/2002 COUNSELOR (INFORMATION)

• Established Information Unit in the Embassy

• Wrote press releases, op-eds and letters to the Editor

• Developed sophisticated communications materials for print and electronic media

• Established and nurtured relationships with Editors and reporters of strategic print and electronic media

• Managed strategic media campaigns targeting print and electronic media

• Was point of contact for media and arranged media briefing for Ambassador, also media visits to Sri Lanka

• Wrote speeches and talking points for Ambassador and visiting VIPs, also talking points

• Organized media trips to Sri Lanka for identified U.S. journalists EMBASSY OF SRI LANKA – BANGKOK, THAILAND 9/1997 to 3/2000 COUNSELOR (INFORMATION)

• Established Information Unit to counter terrorist misinformation and to rebuild Sri Lanka’s reputation and image

• Wrote press releases and op-eds, also speeches for the Ambassador and monthly Embassy Newsletter.

• Established and nurtured media relationships among Thai and international media

• Handling breaking news events and crisis news as point of contact for media.

• Generated stories with human interest hooks and ensured consistent press coverage of unfolding situations

• Organized media trips to Sri Lanka for identified Thai and international media

• Initiated and coordinated partnerships between Sri Lanka and Thailand corporate sectors.

• Participated in TV and radio interviews, delivered talks and organized and managed public events that promoted Sri Lanka

• Cultivated and maintained relationships with Thai think tanks, academics, and international diplomats in Bangkok ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Special Correspondent /Columnist Lanka Monthly Digest Colombo, Sri Lanka

• News Reporter/Features Writer The Sunday Leader Colombo, Sri Lanka

• Economist/Economic communications Hayleys Limited Colombo, Sri Lanka

• Freelance Reporter The Sunday Times Colombo, Sri Lanka

• Features and Business Writer The Sunday Leader Colombo, Sri Lanka

• Reporter/ Features Writer The Sunday Observer/The Daily Observer Colombo, Sri Lanka LANGUAGES

• English (Native Fluency) • Sinhalese (Native Fluency) • French (Limited Proficiency) PHILANTHROPIC COMMITMENT/ VOLUNTEER WORK

• Co-Chair of Schools for Sri Lanka, a non-profit to raise funds for re-building tsunami-destroyed schools in Sri Lanka. Among other activities to raise funds, initiated, organized and managed an international song and dance event in Bethesda, Maryland in May 2005. Eleven cultural groups were engaged for the event, with no face-to-face meetings with any of the groups until the day of the event. All 11 groups performed at the event. Two schools were rebuilt with the funds raised that day.

• Member of Asian American Advisory Group of Montgomery County, Maryland EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Arts, Economics - University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka CITIZENSHIP

• US Citizen

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