CURRICULUM VITAE

Debra A. Schwartz, Ph.D.

http://www.debra-schwartz.blogspot.com

EDUCATION

Ph.D., 2004

Journalism and Public Communication, University of Maryland at College Park

Philip Merrill College of Journalism

Dissertation: In the lion’s mouth: Investigative reporting and advocacy at the turn of the 21st century.

Cognate area: Intercultural listening in the workplace

Dissertation Committee: Steve Barkin, head; Judith Paterson, Kathy McAdams, William Starosta of Howard University; and Andrew Wolvin

Graduate Research Assistant: Douglas Gomery, broadcast history; Haynes Johnson, politics

M.S., 1996

Written Communication, National-Louis University, Evanston, Illinois

Emphasis: Literary journalism /Creative Nonfiction – specialty in humor writing

Thesis: Within reach: Creating barrier-free housing for people with physical disabilities

Apprenticeship: Other Voices, one year as editorial assistant and editor at literary journal, invited to continue

B.A., 1984

Speech Communications, Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois

Emphasis: Broadcasting

Internship: WMAQ-TV, NBC-Chicago, hired after internship

SPECIAL TRAINING

• Investigative Reporting

• Environment Reporting

• Science Writing

• Feature Writing

• Creative Nonfiction

• Writing Chick Lit

• Writing Personal Narrative and Memoir

• Writing Fiction

• Content and Media Analysis

• Editing

• Publication Management

• AP and Chicago Styles

• WordPress, InDesign, Dreamweaver

• Speech Writing

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2009

Visiting Professor, Science Journalism

Waseda University, Waseda Research Institute Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, Summer

Led three-week intensive course in science journalism for mid-career journalists and aspiring reporters. Taught in English. Wrote extensive teaching strategy and course assessment report for curriculum development purposes for Waseda Research Institute Corporation. Published.

Course Emphasis: Translating deep scientific research into fun stories in the life, physical and environmental sciences using literary narrative writing techniques. Student outcomes included two general audience science articles.

Teaching Strategy: Extensive written feedback and one-on-one meetings. Beginning-of-term writing samples and five-minute essays in class. Mid-term blind evaluations to assess whether student expectations were being met. Final blind essay evaluations collected as well. Required students to document their evaluation of their work in a form created for them.

Growth point: Structured system of assessing student expectations provided greater consistency and opportunities for everyone’s growth. Marvelous results, including a stronger sense of community among students, a great feeling of safety, and unusual comfort in participating in class discussions.

2007

Visiting Professor, Writing and Journalism

Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin, Fall semester

Sabbatical replacement at small, private liberal arts school. Facilitated courses in Introduction to Journalism and Writing Environmental Arguments (theme course for English Composition).

Key accomplishments:

•Employed teaching writing strategy including beginning-of-term writing samples, five-minute essays in class, notes on writing and thinking, reflective journals, study questions, concept papers, reading notes, in-class writing workshops, groundwork assignments and written debates.

•Started the Beloit Student News Service (digital media) as part of my teaching strategy.

•Applied consensus grading as a teaching strategy based on best practices in teaching writing.

•Created syllabi with broad and deep exposure to subject matter.

•Requested blind mid-term evaluations to confirm student expectations and assure they were met.

•Designed curriculum for possible intercultural competency requirement as requested by dean.

Teaching Strategy Outcome: Composition students expressed gratitude for opening their minds, improving their ability to argue a position and helping them articulate their ideas in writing to their satisfaction. Journalism students acquired competitive reporting skills in seven weeks. Blind mid-term evaluations helped us match our expectations.

1994-2007

Adjunct Professor and Student Newspaper Advisor

Assorted universities and colleges in the Chicago area and Maryland. Undergraduate and graduate students. School list available. Courses taught:

English: Composition 100 and 101, Poetry Writing, Technical Writing, Writing Environmental Arguments.

Communication: Speech, Environmental Advocacy, Business Writing, Communication Theory.

Journalism: Environment Reporting, Feature Writing, Introduction to Journalism, Writing for the Media.

Key accomplishments:

•Approached English 101 by integrating research presentation into teaching strategy. Employed peer groups for a team research presentation.

•Employed teaching writing strategy using beginning-of-term writing samples, five minute essays in class and speed writing.

•Participated in end-of-semester faculty team evaluations of English Composition proficiency exam based on a stimulus question/reading.

•Participated in learning communities, grade norming and English department reflexive sessions.

•Effectively bridged communication between students from five different world regions in one class (English Composition).

•Led Environmental Advocacy students to create a professional-standard newsletter about biodiesel fuel as a final team project, used as a portfolio item by several students who later became published in the field or went into public affairs with nonprofit organizations or the government.

•Students eagerly wrote plays, self-analyses of writing, speeches, original communication theories and oral interpretations of literature for fun and extra credit.

•Used portfolios as a learning strategy.

•Coached as many as 120 students per semester.

•Wrote student references.

•Initiated, designed and led special topics course in environment reporting.

•Faculty advisor to student newspaper. Included producing administrative reports.

•Led workshops in editing, interviewing, sourcing, reporting and writing as newspaper advisor.

•Received favorable student evaluations.

Teaching Strategy Outcome: Very successful student engagement along with substantial progress in writing, and oral presentation.

2005

Writing Coach

Fairfax Scholastic Learning Academy, Fairfax, Virginia, Summer

Taught, tested and assessed 12 students between grades eight and 12, some preparing for the SAT. Provided extensive accounting and evaluation reports to parents. South Korean clientele.

Key accomplishments:

•Reduced student fear of writing, increased student confidence in skill.

•Strengthened students’ persuasive writing and argumentation skills, written voice, vocabulary and writing through original exercises.

•Improved intercultural communication through creative dramatics.

•Improved student understanding of literary interpretation using videos, reading aloud and acting

out the story.

Teaching Strategy Outcome: Successful student engagement and substantial skill progress.

2004

Curriculum Consultant

Classroom, Inc. & Phoebus Communications, New York City & Washington, D.C., Summer

Led eight weeks of professional development three or four times per week. Taught five instructors in two schools about how to implement a cross-curricular computer interactive course using an innovative approach to coaching reading, writing and math in grades six and eight in the District of Columbia Public Schools.

Key accomplishments:

•Managed curriculum implementation, including instructing students and classroom leaders.

•Supervised curriculum implementation in five classrooms.

1982-1984

English Tutor

Roosevelt University Writing Lab, Chicago

Taught students rhetoric, grammar, sentence structure, paragraphing, punctuation, idea development, etc. through assignments and discussion. Helped students interpret literary works, including classical poetry and prose, by explaining and defining various forms, styles and jargon used in writing. Also edited and organized several master’s theses in economics, politics, business and science.

1982

Writing Instructor – Poetry

Discovery Center, Chicago

Popularity of poetry writing class at Truman College created a following for this non-credit course. Meetings drew an average of 10 students per six-week session.

1982

Writing Instructor – Poetry

Truman College, Chicago

Introduced students to various poetic forms and had them demonstrate each, prescribing techniques for accomplishing the goal. Main ideas covered include the difference between poetry and prose, using stream-of-consciousness writing as an example; how and when to use accented and metered word groups; what justifies line breaks; how to know when the poem is finished; the effect of alliteration and repetition; and cadence. Also touched on performance poetry.

Invited Lectures

2007 Mass Media and Society, Department of Political Science, Beloit College.

2007 Writing for Public Relations, Department of Arts, Communication and Media. Harper College.

2004 Statistics in Environment Reporting. National Environmental Education and Training

Foundation. School Without Walls (magnet high school), Washington, D.C.

1984 Writing Poetry. Department of English, Roosevelt University, Chicago.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE

2005 & 1998 Managing Editor

EDI Forum, an educational journal about electronic business. Managed freelance artists and photographers. Coordinated with printing house and layout and design firm. Responsibilities:

•Story budgeting.

•Edit and proofread copy.

•Organize copy for consistency with publication style.

•Plan and create production schedules with assistant publisher.

•Maintain and frequently update master schedules for all phases of publication.

•Rigorously adhere to production schedules and remind authors and editors of deadlines.

•Work actively and energetically to avoid delays and anticipate possible production delays.

•Provide regular production reports to assistant publisher and publisher.

•Ensure that all documents necessary for article and artwork publication are secured.

•Extra: Co-created usage and style manual; enforced consistency for publication branding. Redesigned pages and content sequence. Credited with improving the look, feel and readability of this 100+ page magazine.

Prince George’s Suite, a glossy magazine about entrepreneurs in Maryland. Responsibilities:

•Edited and proofread contents.

•Approved pre-publication mark-ups as part of editing team.

•Generated ideas for publication development.

•Promoted publication.

2004

Director of Research and Co-principal Investigator

Center for Information Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, Fall semester

Helped establish public policy think-tank. Duties included responding in writing to the 9/11 Commission Report. Led researchers developing studies about privacy, intellectual property and security issues about information and technology.

Key accomplishments:

•Directed and managed 18 researchers on four projects funded with $250,000 from the National Archives and Records Administration that sought to remedy specific problems identified in the

9/11 Commission Report. Studies included best practices in electronic data discovery, electronic records management and radio frequency document identification to deter federal record theft.

•Identified, cultivated and secured private sector funding relationship leading to new income between $30,000 and $50,000.

•Authored and presented original research to promote Center at conferences.

•Designed and led training workshop in interviewing techniques, with special attention to question sequencing, wording and intercultural differences in communication and listening practices at researchers’ requests.

•Created and developed communication strategy for the Center.

1977-1983

Franchise and business owner.

Chicago, Illinois.

Dash Design, a jewelry company. Gold, diamonds, opals and costume jewelry.

The Chicago Stop Smoking Center. Vice president, marketing and promotions; office manager.

PROFESSIONAL WRITING EXPERIENCE

1993-now

Writer, Editor, Communication Consultant

Dash on Deadline, Working from Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Beloit, Wisconsin and Tempe, Arizona

Specialty: Articulating complex ideas and jargon simply and in plain language.

Emphasis: science, the environment and technology.

Currently on contract with Mayo Clinic and ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Press.

Services include: content analysis; media survey and analysis; editing, updating and smoothing scholarly, trade and general audience products; researching and writing news and feature articles about science and the environment as well as general news and feature articles; budgeting, communication strategy, publicity campaigns for products and services.

Key accomplishments:

•Wide-ranging public speaking.

•Professional workshops led in humor writing, editing, reporting and also interviewing.

•Exclusives delivered frequently.

•Ideas generated in abundance and acted upon to client satisfaction.

2006-2007

Environment Reporter

Appalachian Voices, Boone, North Carolina

Collected and wrote articles relevant to Appalachia. Exposed mountaintop removal mining practices forcing FEMA to provide water for four towns in West Virginia. Reported about efforts with U. N. to prohibit mountaintop removal mining in the world as a way to curb water and air pollution.

2004

Fact Checker

Suburban Newsline, College Park, Maryland

Verified news content, including math, with police, politicians, city managers, online and other sources.

2003

Environment Writer/EPA Consultant

Scientific Consulting Group, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Client assignment: EPA.

Key accomplishments:

•Covered international invitation-only EPA conference about environmental economics.

•Wrote in-depth, single-spaced, six-page report about the association between environmental quality and children’s health care costs, including quotes and details revealing a new and more tight-fisted approach toward the Agency by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

•Updated and maintained a section of the EPA’s Web site about technology the agency reviewed and approved or designated experimental or unacceptable for removing soil pollution and measuring remediation.

2000-2001

Environment Reporter

Business Publishers, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland

Publishers of independent newsletters for experts. Focus: Environment, health, economics.

Key accomplishments:

•Gathered and reported approximately 60 short, packed hard news articles for Hazardous Waste News, Superfund Week and Defense Clean-Up.

•Provided scoops and/or exclusives almost weekly.

•Covered law, technology, pollution, environmental clean-up, Congress and EPA.

•Generated between four and six story ideas weekly. Wrote at least four original articles per week.

1998-1999

Education Reporter

Pioneer Press Newspapers, Vernon Hills, Illinois

Covered 16 school districts in educationally innovative Lake County, Illinois.

1996-1998

Environment Reporter

The Brownfields Report, Chicago and Washington, D.C.

Independent newsletter for government leaders, city and village managers, economic developers, and real estate developers.

Key accomplishments:

•Covered EPA and Congress.

•Gained reputation among reporters and sources, including government and activists, as a national expert in brownfields redevelopment.

•Covered real estate law, environmental law, environmental policy and progressive environmental cleanup initiatives to make real estate deals on contaminated properties make sense.

1984-1996

Staff and Contract Reporting, including:

United Press International-Science, Science Reporter

The New York Times, General Assignment Regional Reporter

U.S. News & World Report, Regional General Assignment Reporter

Reuters, Politics and Religion Reporter

Chicago Tribune, Suburban Beat Reporter

Lakeland Newspapers, City and Environment Reporter

The SUN Newspapers, City and Environment Reporter

Press Publications, General Assignment Reporter

Lerner Newspapers, General Assignment Reporter

Chicago Radio Information Service (CRIS Radio), Producer, International Business Talk Show

WMAQ-TV, NBC-Chicago, Consumer News Research and Local Newsroom Assistant

Highlights:

Science Reporter

UPI-Science

Generated, collected and wrote numerous stories including an article detailing deadly mold found in homes that wasn’t covered by homeowners insurance. Coverage helped prompt new law. Reported mining permitted for the first time in a national park, and more.

Regional General Assignment Reporter

The New York Times

Covered city, state, regional and national news, including the first all-race vote in South Africa and acquiring damaging FAA documents allowing the paper to be the first to report discriminatory practices at U.S. airports following the Oklahoma City bombing.

Regional General Assignment Reporter

U.S. News & World Report

Covered city, state, regional and national news, including domestic violence, English-only language issue in U.S., alternative over-the-counter medicines and more.

Regional Politics and Religion Reporter

Reuters

Covered Ross Perot’s candidacy, Parliament of the World’s Religions centennial gathering in Chicago, religious cults. Provided exclusive report about discrimination in Chicago against Wiccans.

Suburban Beat Reporter

Chicago Tribune

Covered cops, robbers, train wrecks, government, land use. Responsible for five police departments, four villages, their related school districts and two county agencies.

Consumer News Researcher and Newsroom Assistant

WMAQ-TV, NBC-Chicago

Worked with assignment desk to assemble reporting crew for story coverage. Communicated with newsroom staff, unit producer and camera operator to coordinate story components, including shots, editing, voiceovers, lead-ins, and acquiring music and artwork to enhance storytelling. Set up news stories with producer, assignment desk and photographer. Monitored additional news sources

including newspapers, magazines, radio and television. Coordinated with public and news sources by telephone and in person. Maintained story files. Established contacts with public information officials, public, government and special interest sources. Maintained contact list. Initiated and developed news stories, covered state elections, interviewed sources, verified information and news tips. Produced and reported news stories.

Producer

CRIS Radio (Chicago Radio Information Service), Chicago

Coordinated all elements of broadcast for live interview program about international business for on-air talent. As fill-in host, interviewed Studs Terkel on-air.

CONTINUING EDUCATION (single or multi-day events only)

2010 Poynter Institute: Covering Green Energy

2010 Poynter Institute: Entrepreneurial Journalism

2009 Society of Environmental Journalists Workshop: Producing for Broadcast with FinalCut Pro

2009 Poynter Institute: Managing Millennials

2009 MediaBistro: Creating an Online Platform

2009 Blackhawk Technical College: Dreamweaver

2008 MediaBistro: Writing Chick Lit

2007 Beloit College: Vocal presentation, diction and artistic expression in music, in English

1997-present: Vocal presentation, diction and artistic expression in music, in English

2004 University of Maryland Professional Series: Project Management

2003 HTML and Access - levels I and II

AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, RECOGNITIONS

2003 James Brown Student Research Award for Intercultural listening in the workplace: A literature synthesis.

2003 Nagel Travel Award for Research, ($1,000)

2000 Aylward Journalism Scholarship, ($1,000)

1999 Who’s Who in the Media and Communications

1998 Who’s Who in America

1997 Great Lakes Environmental Journalism Training Institute Fellowship. Michigan State University.

PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTION

Society of Environmental Journalists, member since 1993

Member, FOI Task Force – includes writing a letter to keep EPA libraries open 2003-2006

Section Editor, SEJournal 2002

Society of Professional Journalists, member since 2004

Chief Judge: Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Awards 2003 - present

Chief Judge: SPJ Green Eyeshades Awards, newspaper reporting and Best of Show 2005, 2006

Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, member 2002-2006

Peer Review: Journal of Communication Inquiry 2002-2004

Peer Review: The Journal of Critical/Cultural Studies, Newspapers, and Methodology 2003, 2004

Peer Review: Communication Research Reports 2002

International Listening Association 2001-2005

Chair, Research Committee 2003-2004

Vice Chair, Research Committee 2002-2003

Chair, Public Relations Committee 2003-2005

Vice Chair, Public Relations Committee 2001-2003

Investigative Reporters and Editors 2003-2006

American Institute of Biological Sciences

Judge, Media Awards Competition 2005

Symposium on the 19th Century Press, the Civil War, and Free Expression 2005

Steering Committee Member

RESEARCH AND/OR DISSEMINATION

Books, Chapters and Journals

Forthcoming

Associate Editor, Environment, Science and Technology. Edited 42 entries in the Encyclopedia of Contemporary American

Social Issues. Editor: Michael Shalley-Jensen. ABC-CLIO: Santa Barbara, CA.

Forthcoming

Contributing Editor. The U.S. Government and the Environment: A Public Policy Reference Encyclopedia. Editor: Matt Lindstrom. ABC-CLIO: Santa Barbara, CA. Authored eight entries: 8,000-words about the pre-1960 relationship between the U.S. government and the environment; 5,000 words about the U.S. Government and the Global Future; and shorter entries ranging from 750 words to 2,000 words about Cato Institute; Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste; Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984; Love Canal, NY; Environment Reporting and the Polluter Pays Principle.

Forthcoming

Contributing Editor. Encyclopedia of American Journalism History. New York: Routledge. Authored five entries ranging in length from 750 words to 2,000 words about mass media effects, Playboy magazine, and journalism and propaganda; edited entries about humor in journalism, and the underground press.

Forthcoming

Contributing Editor. The New American Journalism Encyclopedia. New York: M.E. Sharpe. Authored four entries ranging in length from 500 words to 1,500 words about the Oklahoma City bombing, which I covered in part for The New York Times; Upton Sinclair; Samuel H. Adams; and the Edwards v. National Audubon Society right of neutral reportage case.

2008

Author. “Reporting National News.” In Evensen, B. (ed.) The Responsible Reporter, pp. 159-160.

New York: Peter Lang.

2006

Author. Writing Green: Advocacy and Investigative Reporting About the Environment in the Early

21st Century. Baltimore: Apprentice House.

2004

Author. Listening out of the box: New perspectives for the workplace. International Journal of

Listening, 18, pp. 47-55.

2003

Chapter Editor and Researcher. American Television News: The Media Marketplace and the Public interest. Author: Steve M. Barkin. Armonk, New York: M.E. Sharpe.

2003

Author. Listen Up! Book review. International Listening Association newsletter.

1984-1987

Author. Poetry published in several literary journals and an anthology.

Publications

1993-2008

Author. Hundreds of articles appearing in special interest, trade and general audience publications. Specialty coverage of the environment, science, technology and education.

Presentations

Conference Papers – National/International Audience

2005

Setting the Agenda: Newspapers as Civil War Activists. Symposium on the 19th Century Press, the Civil

War, and Free Expression. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

2004

Constituting the Present: Lessons for Today from Newspaper Coverage of the Indian Land

Severalty Act of 1887. Symposium on the 19th Century Press, the Civil War, and Free Expression. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

2004

Using Qualitative Research Methods to Investigate Intercultural Listening. International Listening

Association Conference. Ft. Meyers, Fla.

2004

Theories and Methods Useful for Listening Research. International Listening Association

Conference. Ft. Meyers, Fla.

2004

Applying the Theory of Third Culture Building to Intercultural Listening Research. International

Listening Association Conference. Ft. Meyers, Fla.

2003

Advancing Listening Research: Reaching Out to the Discipline and Beyond. National

Communication Association Conference. Miami, Fla.

2003

Intercultural Listening in the Workplace. Intercultural Division, Eastern Communication

Association Conference. Washington, D.C.

2002

Advocacy Journalism in Cyberspace. Graduate Research Institute, University of Maryland at

College Park.

Moderator/Panelist/Discussant

2008

Invited panelist. Authoring Nonfiction Books About Science and the Environment. Society

of Environmental Journalists Conference. Roanoke, Va.

2006

Moderator. Trends in Investigative Reporting. Society of Professional Journalists National

Convention. Chicago.

2004

Respondent. Observational Studies: Listening Research. International Listening Association

Conference. Ft. Meyers, Fla.

2003

Panelist. The Art and Craft of Media Interviewing. National Communication Association Conference.

Miami, Fla.

2003

Moderator. GMOs: Panacea or Pandemic? Society of Environmental Journalists Conference.

New Orleans, La.

2002

Tour leader. Superfund: Past, Present and Future. Society of Environmental Journalists

Conference. Baltimore, Md.

2002

Moderator. Superfund Update. Society of Environmental Journalists Conference. Baltimore, Md.

2001

Panelist. Ethics of Environmental Journalism. Environmental Journalism Academy sponsored by

the National Environment Wire for Students. Washington, D.C.

2000

Moderator. Bioprospecting and Biopiracy. Society of Environmental Journalists Conference. East

Lansing, Mich.

2000

Invited panelist. Getting Started in Environmental Journalism. Society of Environmental

Journalists Conference. East Lansing, Mich.

Workshop Leader

2009

Have You Heard the One About…? Using Humor to Help Tell Environmental Stories. Society of

Environmental Journalists Conference. Madison, Wis.

2004

Interviewing and Intercultural Communication. Center for Information Policy, University of Maryland at

College Park.

2001

Finding the Environment Angle. Environmental Journalism Academy sponsored by the National

Environment Wire for Students. Washington, D.C.

2000

Interviewing Skills for Journalists. Environmental Journalism Academy sponsored by the National

Environment Wire for Students. Washington, D.C.

1982-1986

Coordinator, Chicago Writers Workshop.

Recruited and gathered poets and authors in an informal setting to cultivate works in progress.

Established workshop feedback structure. Organized monthly invited speaker sessions.

CONSULTING

Mayo Clinic

National Geographic media survey and analysis 2010

Peter Lang Publishers

Global environmental journalism 2010

Book title requested.

EPA

Report: What is the relationship between environmental quality and children’s health care costs? 2003

Client Confidential.

Predicting the future state of computer-assisted drug design 2002

Assignment: List and explain computer techniques for drug discovery, analyze

how they have changed, identify changes in computer techniques for drug discovery after the human

genome was almost completely elucidated, describe the limitations the techniques possess, write

about what each pharmaceutical/computer biotech company is doing in their effort to use computer

techniques in drug discovery. Find and understand the techniques. Interview pharmaceutical researchers.

SERVICE

Invited member. Mass Communication Advisory Committee, Harper College 2007

Author. Transferring skills: Positioning Harper College students within the discipline of journalism. Curriculum guidance for Journalism and Mass Communication. Administrative research report investigating what student newspapers at feeder schools for Harper College look for in students they hire for leadership positions at school publications.

Doctoral representative. Philip Merrill College of Journalism, faculty assembly and four committees, University of Maryland at College Park, 2000-2004

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Commissioner. City of College Park Redistricting Commission 2003

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