Man's best friend, indeed
Laura Butterbrodt
Multimedia Journalist
RESUME
Professional
info
A skilled communicator and writer with extensive knowledge of social media, editing and general office skills. Multi-tasks and adapts well to changing
situations. Driven by a focus on creating quality work and a passion for exploring the world.
Work
experience
The Watertown Public Opinion (Gannett)
Reporter/Copy Editor
June 2019-present
Watertown, SD
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Design all pages of daily newspaper in Adobe InDesign
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Write news stories of local and regional relevance
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Produce original story ideas
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Manage Neighbors, Church sections and content
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Select page content
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Copy edit
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Conduct interviews
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Take photos
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Produce videos
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Collaborate with newsroom teams in Watertown and Aberdeen
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Worked as a student intern May-August 2017
Various News Publications
Freelance Writer
May 2016-July 2019
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Publications: Granite Falls, MN Advocate Tribune; Cottonwood, MN Tri-County News; Mitchell, SD Daily Republic; Watertown, SD Public Opinion
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Conducted interviews and research
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Wrote news articles and feature stories
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Took photos
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Met deadlines
Daktronics
Copywriting Marketing Student
June 2018-May 2019
Brookings, SD
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Wrote copy for Daktronics’ online blog
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Wrote and conducted interviews for news releases and customer testimonies
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Edited photos of installed products in Adobe Photoshop
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Edited and proofread company documents
South Dakota State University
Plant Science Office
Office Assistant
November 2015-May 2019
Brookings, SD
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Graded exams
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Helped coordinate and organize department-wide scholarship banquets
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Compiled class handouts
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Managed department archives
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Delivered mail
The Collegian
Lifestyles Editor
January-December 2017
Brookings, SD
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Managed weekly section
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Wrote articles and features
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Advised student reporters
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Generated content ideas
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Designed pages
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Copy edited
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Met deadlines
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Worked as a Collegian reporter from August 2016-January 2020
Watertown Public Opinion
Student Intern
May-August 2017
Watertown, SD
Wrote articles, took photos, conducted interviews, proofread, managed and wrote obituaries.
Brookings Register
Social Media Intern
January-May 2017
Brookings, SD
Wrote and scheduled social media posts, studied analytics, covered events on social media. Worked primarily with Facebook, Facebook Live, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
Tri-County News
Freelance Writer
May-December 2016
Cottonwood, MN
Conducted interviews and research, wrote articles and met deadlines on local news stories.
Granite Falls Advocate Tribune
Student Intern
June 2014- August 2015
Granite Falls, MN
Wrote articles, took photos, conducted interviews, proofread, designed page layouts, various office jobs.
Kilowatt Community Center
Lifeguard
October 2013- August 2016
Granite Falls, MN
Supervised patrons, assisted swimmers with questions and problems, reacted in emergency situations, provided custodial services and maintained a safe environment.
Clarkfield Pool
Lifeguard
May 2015-August 2016
Clarkfield, SD
Supervised patrons, assisted swimmers with questions and problems, reacted in emergency situations, provided custodial services and maintained a safe environment.
Skills
Organization
Communication
Social Media
Writing
Page Layout
Photography
Adobe: InDesign, Photoshop, Audition, Premiere Pro
Languages
English
Spanish (intermediate)
Bulgarian (beginner)
Special Awards and Honors
-
Student fellow for the Pulitzer
Center, reporting on education
rights in Budapest, Hungary
(May 2019) -
Selected participant for the Bakala Foundation's Journey: 2018 journalism boot camp in Prague, Czech Republic (August 2018)
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Kappa Tau Alpha Honor Society
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SDSU Journalism Club President
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Eighth place, 2019 Best of the
Midwest Best of Show Feature
Story -
ISEP Voices Official Blogger
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Recipient of 2018 David Kranz Argus Leader Scholarship
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South Dakota World Affairs Council member
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South Dakota State University Department of Communication and Journalism Student Advisory Council member
South Dakota State University
May 2019
Brookings, SD
Major - Journalism (BA).
Minor- global studies, music.
Cumulative GPA: 3.8
American University in Bulgaria
2018 - semester abroad
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Studied Journalism and Mass Communications.
Education
Involvement
South Dakota State University
Campus Involvement
Lifestyles Editor at The Collegian, Journalism Club president, women's choir, Mass Communications Department Student Advisory Council, Get FRUVED
American University in Bulgaria
Campus Involvement
Volunteer Writing Center tutor
Yellow Medicine East High School
Extracuriculars
National Honor Society, yearbook editor, dance, tennis, track team manager, Concert Choir, Concert Band, Chamber Choir, Jazz Choir, secretary/treasurer of drama club, student council, Red Cross youth, prom committee.