The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

My career with The Forum began in 2007 with my first summer internship. That 12-week experience challenged and expanded my skills as a journalist, while also helping me learn more about my hometown community through a new perspective.

Two years later, I joined the Forum staff immediately after graduating from Michigan State University in August 2009. My primary coverage areas originally included: North Dakota and Minnesota federal government and politics, federal court, and West Fargo city government.

During the 2012 election cycle - as I did previously in 2010 - I'm leading the campaign and election coverage for North Dakota's U.S. Senate and House races. I also maintain a blog on North Dakota political and government news, which includes campaign analysis.

In fall 2011, newsroom-wide reassignments gave me additional challenges. On top of my original beats - which I continue to be responsible for - I also took over coverage for the city of Fargo, Cass County (N.D.) and matters related to the Red River diversion project. These beats gave me further opportunities to report on politics and government issues affecting the Fargo-Moorhead metro community.

Here are samples of my work at The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead:

"Corps approves diversion study" (Dec. 21, 2011)

"Diversion Discussion: Specific mitigation yet to come for landowners" (Dec. 4, 2011)

"ND finally has US attorney nominee" (Feb. 4, 2010)

"Dorgan won't run" (Jan. 6, 2010)

"Rapid growth leaves West Fargo with fewer options for future" (March 7, 2011)

"National park drilling ongoing" (Oct. 21, 2010)

"Berg-Pomeroy: Election 2010 series" (September-October 2010)

"Families fight over orphan's fate" (March 24, 2011)

"Conrad: Financial collapse was near" (Oct. 22, 2010)

"John Hoeven: Life and Politics" (Jan. 17, 2010)

"Pomeroy makes transition to a life after Congress" (Jan. 8, 2011)

"A senator and his dog" (June 30, 2010)

December 26-27, 2011 - As an introduction to the 2012 campaign season in North Dakota, I produced a multimedia project featuring the seven candidates for U.S. House and the four candidates for U.S. Senate. The project included Q-and-A interviews in print, with accompanying video interviews online.

June 9-14, 2011 - "Cultures in Conflict” was a six-part series publishing in The Forum and Inforum.com, which included written stories, video interviews and an interactive map. I profiled five local individuals who were born in countries around the globe that face social unrest, political change and/or cultural conflict. Then, The Forum invited each of these individuals to participate in a roundtable discussion about international and cultural issues.

November 4, 2010 - To conclude The Forum's 2010 election coverage, I produced an audio slideshow highlighting North Dakota's highly competitive U.S. House race. I shot the photos, captured the audio, edited the media, and compiled the slideshow by myself.