MELINDA K. MAHAFFEY

email: melinda.mahaffey@yahoo.com

EXPERIENCE

Freelance Writer
Dallas, Texas
Publications include National Geographic Traveler, Outside, Outside Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Away.com, and the Santa Fean
See www.melindamahaffey.com/clips for a selection of writings

Advisor to Student Newspaper
The Greenhill School, Dallas, Texas, October 2009 - present
Advise and aid 35 high-school students as they put together six issues per school year
Serve as first editor and final copyeditor
Lead workshops on journalism tools like research, interview techniques, and story structure

Managing Editor
Southwest Spirit magazine, Dallas, Texas, 2006 - 2008
Since the relaunch in January 2007, oversaw and scheduled the production of the magazine from story assignment to final production
Hired and managed intern and outside fact-checkers; coordinated fact-checking assignments
Edited assigned sections, including FOB pieces, monthly travel feature, and a fictional series
Researched and wrote monthly FOB stories, profiles, and features
Spirit won four Folio awards and six Custom Publishing Council awards in 2007 and a gold Custom Publishing Council award for Best Editorial in 2008

Assistant Editor
2006 Outside Buyer's Guide, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2005 - 2006
Researched and wrote gear reviews, athlete Q&A’s and company profiles
Fact-checked, wrote reports, and worked closely with senior editors and writers on gear reviews
Coordinated and maintained inventory for over 250 pieces of gear

Intern/Researcher
Outside and Outside Traveler, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2005 - 2005
Researched and wrote short articles, service pieces and celebrity and athlete profiles
Fact-checked, provided additional reporting, and worked closely with senior editors on fob articles and features
Interviewed sources and wrote weekly news stories for Outside Online

Lead Youth Coordinator
Norwegian Cruise Lines, 1998 - 2004, contract-to-contract basis
Designed, organized, and implemented onboard youth and teen activities
Supervised up to seven staff and coordinated high-volume activities for up to 500 kids per week
Publicly presented Youth Program to 200 families per week; emceed adult activities and theme nights

EDUCATION

B.A., Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, 1998
Major: English, cum laude, with concentration in film theory
Significant other coursework in Spanish and art history
Features and sports writer, The Amherst Student

Universidad de Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Spring Semester 1997

SKILLS & INTERESTS

Proficiency in Spanish and French, written and spoken
Experience with QPS, InDesign, HTML, digital photography, and the Internet
Advanced Open Water Diver, certified September 2001; more than 70 logged dives
Traveled to more than 45 countries, particularly in the Americas and Europe