Olga Khazan

Web journalist

olga.khazan@gmail.com

(214) - 578 - 9156

Education

University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. M.A. Online Journalism, July 2011. Full-tuition merit scholarship. Award for Distinguished Journalism.
American University, Washington, D.C., May 2008, magna cum laude. Full-tuition merit scholarship. Bachelor of Arts, double major: Communications, Law, Economics and Government (CLEG); Political Science

 

Skills

Web

Designing and managing sites, creating interactive Web graphics and multimedia, data visualization, SEO optimization

Journalism

Cross-platform investigative, science and culture journalism published in outlets including the LA Times and Forbes. Proven deadline writer and strong editor

Social Media

Proven ability to use a variety of social media methods to reach sources and push out content, growing readership and engagement

Technical

  • HTML
  • CSS
  • JQuery
  • Illustrator
  • Photoshop
  • Flash
  • Russian
  • French
  • Various Content Management Systems

Journalism Experience

Washington Post

Reporter and Web Producer

October 2011 - present

  • Write breaking news and features for Capital Business, Sunday business and On Small Business
  • Increased social media following from zero to 600 within three months
  • Stories have garnered hundreds of thousands of page views, consistently leading the site's top content list

LA Times and Forbes.com

Freelance Writer

January 2011 - May 2011

  • Write stories for the Los Angeles Times health section, including a full-page Monday centerpiece
  • Write a regular blog for Forbes.com with original reporting

Carnegie-Knight News21

Fellow

January 2011 - Present

  • Produce stories for KCET.org based on data-driven findings in environment and climate issues.
  • Investigate influence of political donations in policy

NeonTommy.com/Annenberg Digital News

Senior Editor

October 2009 - present

  • Conceive, plan and execute complex multimedia and interactive projects
  • Wrote items for a project on victims of swine flu in Los Angeles, which won 2nd place at LA Press Club awards
  • Write investigative series, lead teams of writers, manage breaking news, SEO, social media management

KCRW Public Radio

Web Editor

December 2010 - June 2011

Write Web stories and assist in production for KCRW's "Design and Architecture" show

News24: Cape Town, South Africa

Editorial Intern

June - July 2010

Wrote stories on physical health and mental health for the largest news site in South Africa

Northwest Current: Washington, D.C.

Freelance Reporter

October 2008 - June 2009

Wrote weekly local-interest articles and assisted in copy editing for a D.C.-area weekly print newspaper

Washingtonpost.com

Editorial Intern

October 2008 - June 2009

  • Proposed and wrote an 1800-word feature on online gaming addiction published in the Technology section
  • Wrote analysis pieces on congressional and gubernatorial political races for the Politics section
  • Assisted in the production of online interactive features and managed user interaction through online chats

Other Relevant Projects

  • Conceived, designed and produced a site geared toward immigrant communities in L.A., fall 2010
  • Contribute audio, photo and text stories to KPCC/Southern California Public Radio and Huffington Post
  • Served as an official science writer for the National Academy of Sciences Imaging Conference, fall 2011

Olga Khazan — olga.khazan@gmail.com — (214)-578-9156