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Michigan-based Journalist
Colin S Smith's Bio:
Colin S Smith's Experience:
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Writer at UP Nairobi Magazine
October 2013 - February 2014Written feature stories for the printed issues--including the significance of the only radio station in Kibera, Africa's largest urban slum, which promoted peace during Kenya's infamous post-electional violence in 2007. Primary concert reviewer, as well as an online content writer. Interviewed key figures in Nairobi's arts and entertainment scene, including the regionally acclaimed singer-songwriter Maia Von Lekow, platinum-selling producer DJ Carlos Mensa, New York Times published poet Staceyann Chin, and 2013's Grammy Producer of Year DIPLO (producer of Beyonce, M.I.A, and Major Lazer).
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Writing Intern at Circle of Blue
July 2013 - August 2013Pitching article ideas, executing them, interviewing environmental activists, and editing. Diving into various projects around the office, most recently taking photos and writing of a nearby rally that calls for action against the addition of diluted tar sands to the Mackinac pipelines.
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Journalist at Kalamazoo Local Music
March 2013 - August 2013Pitching articles and writing them on a weekly basis. Attend meetings, plug in events into a calendar, and exchange ideas with other writers for a professional music website. Attend events, become fluent with blogs, and proliferate viewership through social media.
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Editor in Chief at Naked Music & Culture Magazine
April 2012 - April 2013Organized meetings and brainstormed article ideas with writers to gather content for a full issue. Worked with designers to facilitate layout while coordinating with a local printing company as well as student government to for funding. Organized various events such as bringing Circle of Blue journalist Aubrey Parker and singer-songwriter Joshua Davis to campus. On another occasion brought musician Jackson Smith, son of Patti Smith and husband of Meg White (White Stripes). Other events included establishing a quarterly "Student Showcase" to display campus talent, as well as "Quadstock," a tribute to First Amendment rights among critical media-based student organizations (radio, newspaper, and magazine) with the late '60s music festivals in mind.
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Department Student Advisor at American Studies Department at Kalamazoo College
June 2014 -
Contributing Features Writer at Second Wave Media
June 2014Telling stories on local culture and development through profiling people and events.
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Office of College Communications Intern at Kalamazoo College
June 2014Writing news and feature stories on Kalamazoo College events, students, faculty, and other related projects. Some include writing the pamphlet for the Arcus Center for Social Justice--a building designed by Jeanne Gang, a distinguished genius named as a MacArthur Fellow in 2011--an obituary for the first woman chemist to graduate K College, and narrative features from a local avant-garde harpist to fundraisers at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market.
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Head Editor of the Land Sea 40th Year Anniversary Book at Kalamazoo College
June 2013Collected submissions, edited pieces, edited photos, and facilitated aligning the book's aesthetics with the Editor in Chief.
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Staff Writer at SMASH Magazine
March 2013Reviewing local restaurants, breweries, and local music releases every month.
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Co-Editor in Chief at The Index (Kalamazoo College)
September 2011Wrote articles on average of once a week from Fall 2011 to Spring 2013, accumulating a wealth of clippings and practical experience. Refined techniques and skills with news writing to soft features to opinions editorials, as well as working with editors and pitching ideas. Interviewed Jackson Smith, son of Patti Smith and current husband to Meg White (of the White Stripes), DJ Benzi, as well as numerous poets, such as Angel Nafis and Andrea Gibson. Co-Editor in Chief as of April 2014.
Colin S Smith's Education:
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Kalamazoo College
2011 – 2016Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) -
University of Nairobi
2013 – 2014Concentration: Sociology and Anthropology -
East Grand Rapids High School
Colin S Smith's Interests & Activities:
Music, Biking, Cooking, Reading, Poetry