Career Roadmap
Patty's work combines: Journalism, Education, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Atwood High School, Atwood, KS
Bachelor's Degree
B.A., Journalism & Mass Communications
Kansas State University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Director of Content:
Bachelor's Degree: B.A., Journalism & Mass Communications
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
1.
High School valedictorian; attended university thanks to scholarships, Pell Grants, student loans and MANY jobs.
2.
Worked at university's daily newspaper -- real world experience + $ for rent + confirmation of career path.
3.
1st professional job and a magnificent adventure! Environment reporter at Mexico City daily The News.
4.
Environment reporter on US-Mexico border. Spanish language skills + Mexico experience leveraged every day.
5.
Joined Associated Press: excellent on-the-job training & experience in Denver, New York, Indianapolis, Baltimore.
6.
Back to newspapers: Baltimore, Houston, Washington, DC, but layoff resulted in career change. Still gathering and telling stories: National Archives, education technology company, education nonprofit.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
Your job is being eliminated.
How I responded:
At the height of my career in journalism in a job I loved, reporting from the White House and Supreme Court for a daily newspaper, I was laid off. I went out with great colleagues from bureaus around the globe. My awesome journalism colleagues fired up their networks on my behalf and by day’s end, I had two offers of contract work and several job leads. I turned in my keys, went home to cry, and began work the next day on a book project and several freelance pieces.