Project Manager

DEBBI MORELLO

www.debbimorello.com

** ******** *****, ******, ** 06897

Home + Cell: 203-***-****

**********@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Performance-driven, high-energy journalism and communications professional with experience and expertise

working with major media and humanitarian organizations, U.N., and U.S. government agencies worldwide.

Experienced in virtually every aspect of journalism, communications and media relations.

• Experienced writer and editor of stories, reports, articles, web, proposals, grants and technical material.

• Experience teaching and mentoring, experienced trainer.

• Experience working in diverse cultural settings and managing host country staff.

• Proven track record for improving and raising the quality of content for multiple formats – annual reports,

newsletters, marketing materials, media kits.

• Accomplished and award winning visual journalist.

• Expertise in Adobe CreativeSuite, PhotoShop and InDesign.

Advanced skills and thorough understanding of the importance of new technologies, social media and

multimedia news.

Experienced working in conflict and post-conflict countries including Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia &

Herzegovina, Chechnya, Africa, (Northern Uganda, Sudan, Rwanda, Zaire, Kenya) Chechnya, Haiti and Central

America.

EDUCATION

B.S., history, Vanderbilt University, 1981

EXPERIENCE

Writer, Communications Consultant

January 2009 to Present

Washington, D.C., New York Metro

General Assignment Reporter including breaking news, town government, feature, and enterprise reporting and

photography for the Associated Press, Waterbury Republican-American, Register Citizen,.

Designing and implementing communications and media outreach plans, media relations and social media

strategies for private sector, U.S. government, and humanitarian agencies.

• Writing, editing and content development for compelling web-based news and blog content.

• Repurposing content for a variety of stakeholders.

• Organizations include Connecticut Against Gun Violence, Save the Children US and UK, Dempsey

Partners, AmeriCares, Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development.

Senior Manager, Communications and Outreach, USAID, Management Systems International

2008

Baghdad, Iraq

Contributed to the success of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Tatweer project by managing a

broad spectrum of writing, media outreach, and creative development. Led creation of the Communications and

Outreach Department with full ownership of the Communications strategy and vision for Tatweer. Produced

information, stories and collateral material through collaboration across all teams, U.S. Embassy, Dept. of State,

USAID and Iraq’s ministries.

• Successfully increased visibility of USAID’s largest program in Iraq.

• Managed media inquiries and executed proactive media relations activities to secure local and national

coverage.

1

• Established media priorities, targets and tactics, tracks coverage and builds relationships with target

media outlets.

• Wrote success stories, documented and interviewed numerous beneficiaries for Success Stories for

multiple stakeholders, internal and external audiences, and generated content for project website.

• Generated content for media, project website and local media.

• Generated major international media coverage for USAID achievements in Iraq through Tatweer.

Senior Consultant, International Medical Corps

2008

Iraq

Played critical information sharing and monitoring and evaluation role for IMC’s humanitarian assistance to

affected populations in Iraq. Produced research, monthly, quarterly, and flash assessment reports, stories, and

press releases.

Teacher, Clay County Public Schools Academy of Television and Photojournalism

2006 to 2007

Jacksonville, FL

Conceptualized and launched curriculum for Photojournalism for the Clay County School District's Career and

Technical Education program. Taught Photojournalism and Principals of Journalism by encouraging students to

learn cultural exploration, global issues, and how to document the world around them. Secondary 9 - 12.

• Media’s Impact: In what ways do the media shape public opinion, debate, and policy.

• Missing Voices: What does it mean to be marginalized? Perspective: When your voice is not heard?

• Documenting the world around you - Pictures tell a story.

• Successfully engaged The Poynter Institute for on-site student trips.

SAVE THE CHILDREN

2004 to 2006

Communications Officer, Tsunami Response, International Secretariat

London

Designed communications strategies for informing the public of Save the Children’s work in the Tsunami affected

regions. Planned and executed liaison operations for critical agency-wide communications activities related to SC

Tsunami response.

• Produced success stories and case studies for One-Year-On publications.

• Promoted programs in the affected region about the crisis to communicate.

• Produced and edited weekly updates and situation reports compiled from members worldwide.

Communications Officer, Tsunami Response

Washington, D.C

Liaised with CEOs and top officials of Save the Children operational member organizations worldwide and with

the International Save the Children Alliance Secretariat.

• Captured, consolidated and effectively communicated information to all stakeholders to ensure public and

donor awareness.

• Led reporting and information dissemination on Save the Children’s response in South Asia.

• Responded to media and identified core information from all SC Members responding to the crisis.

Emergency Communications Officer

Darfur, Khartoum, Sudan

Played critical information sharing role for area directors and sector managers to assess and report on the

humanitarian assistance requirements for affected populations in Darfur as SCUK scaled up its emergency

humanitarian operations. Liaised with local media print and broadcast.

• Developed and executed internal and external information dissemination strategies. Produced stories,

updates, case studies and situation reports.

• Supported advocacy efforts in London headquarters with members of Parliament and relevant agencies

at national and international levels.

2

Information Officer, Development Alternatives, Inc USAID/OTI

2003

Iraq

Spearheaded information sharing on USAID's humanitarian relief program activities for USAID’s Office of

Transition Initiatives (OTI). Executed information dissemination to promote OTI's program to internal and external

audiences. Produced daily reports obtained from teams across Iraq that served the USAID Administrator, Colin

Powell and State Department staff on OTI's grant activities, Food for Peace and the Office of Foreign Disaster

Assistance program activities.

Public Information Specialist

2002-2003

Kenya

Consultant for humanitarian, UN agencies including the World Food Programme Public Information Department in

the regional information office in Nairobi. Developed reports, information products and media campaigns for

WFP’s emergency operations in East Africa. Missions: Gulu region in northern Uganda, Kakuma in northwest

Kenya, and North and South Sudan.

Media Relations Officer, Catholic Relief Services

2002

Pakistan and Afghanistan

Led written and photographic coverage for the Afghan Emergency Relief Program as it transitioned

from emergency relief to development. Successfully engaged on-the-ground media representatives and

international media coverage. Produced press releases, case studies, talking points, one-pagers, material for

marketing material.

Staff Photojournalist, The San Diego Union-Tribune

6/99 to 10/00

San Diego, California

Responsible for written and photographic coverage of daily and long-term story assignments. Projects: "House of

Healing": Logan Heights Family Health Clinic, a health clinic in the barrio providing free health care to the poor;

Teen Watch" a county-financed program for pregnant teens with substance abuse, "The 2000 Republican

National Convention: Philadelphia", "A Ritual of Life and Death... the Bullfight" Tijuana, Mexico, Copley

Journalism Awards for Excellence, awarded three times.

Staff Photojournalist, The State Newspaper

6/98 - 6/99

Columbia, South Carolina

Responsible for written and photographic coverage of Neighbors, five weekly editions covering five regional

zones. Assignment Editor for section, generating, scheduling and producing stories and assignments for

Neighbors.

1996-1998 Photojournalist, Washington, D.C., Haiti, News Organizations: The Washington Post, The New York

Times, Knight-Ridder/Tribune, including Miami Herald, The Boston Globe, Newsday, Reuters, Time Magazine,

Newsweek Magazine. NGO experience: World Relief, Catholic Relief Services, The YMCA of Washington, D.C.,

The Salvation Army. Projects: "Haiti's Sorrow...Still the Same" sponsored by Knight-Ridder/Tribune and "Portrait

of Dee" for the YMCA of Washington, D.C. profiling a pregnant teen for Resource Mothers and Project Life.

1995 Photojournalist, Sarajevo, coverage included the Balkans region, Chechnya.

News Organizations: The New York Times, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, The Independent, Time

Magazine, NGO experience: contracts with International Committee for The Red Cross in Sarajevo, Chechnya

and regionally throughout the Balkans, Catholic Relief Services: Sarajevo and Croatia, World Food Program,

Sarajevo - Project: "Children of War", sponsored and syndicated internationally, Black Star Agency.

1994 Photojournalist, Guatemala and Africa, Based in Guatemala for Reuters, Africa: Rwanda and Zaire

covering one of the worst humanitarian crises in history, the mass exodus of Rwandan refugees, assigned with

The New York Times; humanitarian organizations included American Red Cross in Zaire, Care Canada in Zaire

1991-1993 Photojournalist, Washington, D.C. Haiti, Bosnia News Organizations, UPI, Reuters, The Washington

Times, US News & World Report; assignments in Haiti and Bosnia.

3

Contact this candidate