Public Relations Social Media
Resume:
Karen Cotton
Cheyenne, WY
******.*****@*****.***
Authorized to work in the US for any employer
WORK EXPERIENCE
Journalist
August 2021 to present
Country Music News International
I’ve interviewed country artists for radio, television and print and worked under tight deadlines.
Author
Self-employed
April 2011 to Present
I’ve self-published, written and illustrated three children’s books with grants from the Wyoming Arts Council.
www.karencotton.net
Magazine Editor/Reporter/Owner
Self-employed
January 2012 to Present
I started an online entertainment magazine in January of 2012 called Sweet as Cotton Candy. First it was a blog and now it is an online magazine. I’ve covered authors, musicians, and events in Cheyenne and Northern Colorado. One of the main events that I’ve covered is Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Website: http://lifeisassweetascottoncandy.wordpress.com
Website: www.sweetascottoncandy.com
Entertainment and features reporter
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
May 1999 to March 2011
I wrote entertainment articles for Cover Story, What’s Up and ToDo daily entertainment sections. I interviewed entertainment celebrities, such as musicians, authors, actors, playwrights, and other entertainment industry professionals. I also wrote articles about local and regional events in Southeastern Wyoming and Northern Colorado. I reviewed theatrical productions, concerts and did numerous book reviews.
I wrote features articles for Plains Life and Journey Sunday features sections. I wrote articles about all types of subjects such as science, space exploration, museum exhibits, profiles of people, home living, pop culture, Wyoming history, Union Pacific Steam Program, education, health, etc.
Website: www.wyomingnews.com
Public Relations Internship
University of Wyoming
January 1998 to February 1999
I was the public relations intern during the Matthew Shepard internationally known news event. I also wrote press releases about college activities and events.
Website: www.uwyo.edu
FREELANCING
During college, starting in 1994, I freelanced for the Rocket Miner, Casper Star-Tribune, Laramie Boomerang, Wyoming Livestock Roundup, and Country Weekly.
EDUCATION
Associates of Arts in Journalism
Western Wyoming Community College
BA in Communication and Mass Media
University of Wyoming
SKILLS
Microsoft Office (10+ years), Photography (10+ years), Communications (10+ years), Typing 100 WPM (10+ years), Playing instruments including piano, violin, clarinet, guitar, percussion (10+ years), Songwriting (6 years), Phone skills (10+ years), Social Media Marketing (10+ years), Teaching workshops, Art, Writing (10+ years), Theater (5 years)
AWARDS
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
2010
I received a fellowship to critique plays, theater, music, books, and musical theater from the National Endowment for the Arts. The fellowship was through the USC Annenberg School of Journalism. The fellowship was located in Los Angeles for two weeks. I saw several productions some including Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and Oprah Winfrey's production of A Color Purple and Joan Rivers' show.
https://wyoarts.state.wy.us/karen-cotton-selected-as-nea-theater-fellow/
http://annenberg.usc.edu/NEAArtsJournalism/~/media/In%20The%20Field/Training%20Programs/NEA%20Institute/Final%20Press%20Release%2008.ashx
Individual Professional Artist Development Grant
2004
I received a grant that funded my conference fee for a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference in Golden, CO. It was for my Vedauwoo: Hidden Faces in Mysterious Places book. I self-published the book in 2014. I illustrated the book with photography and wrote it, as well. Sierra Trading Post bought 300 copies of my book.
Individual Professional Artist Development Grant
2011
This grant was for a song that I wrote titled, "My Best." I went to the IMMERSE conference that is a Gospel Music Association conference for Christian musicians. The conference was in Nashville, Tennessee.
Individual Professional Artist Development Grant
2016
This grant was awarded for my book "K-9 and Deputy Heroes of the Laramie County Sheriff's Department". I did the photographs/illustrations and I wrote the book. The book was self-published in June of 2017. Proceeds will go back to the K-9 Sheriff K-9 Unit Program.
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