Ben Irwin

Davis, CA 95616

bpi818@mac.com

Education

Associate in Arts in Journalism – Sacramento City College – May 2020

Bachelor of Science in Planning, Urban Planning with a minor in Sustainability – Arizona State University – May 2016

The Sun-Gazette – Reporter – Oct. 2020 – Present

Report and write news, feature and enterprise stories for the weekly newspaper covering Tulare County, CA. Cover local government and explore issues like unincorporated areas struggling with undrinkable water and drought.
Shoot and edit photos, design pages for print and upload stories to the publication’s website.

The Express at Sacramento City College – Web Adviser – August 2019 – June 2020

Managed the webiste of the online-only, student run newspaper, mentored students and editors and produced a weekly podcast on reporter’s insights of highlighted stories.
Wrote stories, produced podcast episodes and designed the online layout for a major project funded by a California Humanities grant about socioeconomics affecting City College students, “From Darkness: City’s journey to light”

Davis Lutheran Church – Podcast Producer – March 2020 – April 2021

Capital Public Radio – Podcast Intern – Spring 2020

Assisted with production of “The Drive,” a podcast about personal stories on the road to leadership, and research for “Californialand,” a future installment of CapRadio’s environmental podcast
- Edited full length episodes, shorter cuts for broadcast and radio teasers using Adobe Audition
- Wrote anchor intros, taglines and web copy to accompany podcasts
Gathered audio in the field, pulled audio clips for coworkers, and helped report out written and broadcast news stories, including coverage on the Super Tuesday election and the coronavirus pandemic

Sacramento, CA – Freelancer – Fall 2019

Sacramento News & Review – wrote news analysis on police racial misconduct, an affordable housing program, a presidential candidates campaign claims and past investments, and features on food and drink
Sacramento Magazine – wrote a story on concert venues in the Sacramento area

Sactown Magazine – Editorial Intern – Spring 2019

Wrote food and event articles for the online blog at Sactownmag.com
Fact-checked, copy-edited and proof-read articles for print and online publication

The Express at Sacramento City College – Editor-In-Chief, Staff Writer – Spring 2019

As Editor-In-Chief, managed the student-run online and print newspaper, managed editors and staff writers, piloted a weekly podcast series on reporter’s insights into highlighted stories and published the final print issue of The Express
Wrote news, feature and sports stories, including bringing to light a conflict-of-interest issue within the student government, interviewing a teacher who had just lost everything to the Camp Fire in Paradise, CA and covering a string of racially-charged hate speech incidents on campus
Wrote a feature story on conveying emotion through music for Mainline Magazine, a student-run longform publication

Proficient: AP style, photography, videography
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Audio Skills: Adobe Audition, Logic Pro, field audio equipment
Programs: Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel; Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Premiere; WordPress

Available upon request