Resume and Clips

EXPERIENCE Deanna M. Davison VCU Capital News Service, Richmond, VA 1650 Overbrook Rd. #G9 Jan. 2018 – present Richmond, Va. 23220 ▪ Wrote 13 stories for news outlets across Virginia (804) 896-5317 ▪ Covered the Virginia General Assembly and state politics, [email protected] including progress of bills and committee meetings ______▪ Interviewed state senators, delegates and other community leaders and members ▪ Had 3 stories picked up by the Associated Press, published ONLINE LINKS in outlets including the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald and more Professional profile: linkedin.com/in/deanna-davison EDUCATION Online portfolio: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA clippings.me/deannadavison Bachelor of Science (B.S.) to be complete Dec. 2018 Mass Communications, Concentration in Journalism

Reynolds Community College, Richmond, VA SKILLS & ABILITIES Liberal Arts transfer program | 2015-2016 ▪ Writing OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS ▪ Reporting “House Republicans pass sexual harassment policy,” VCU’s ▪ Interviewing student newspaper The Commonwealth Times, 2018 ▪ AP Style ▪ Copy editing ▪ Social media “Mental illness: destroying the stigma,” The Write Stuff: Cape ▪ Google Suite Cod Community College’s Showcase of Student Writing, 2015 ▪ Microsoft Suite ▪ Adobe Audition + Premiere “Bruce Springsteen and generational unity,” The Write Stuff: ▪ Wordpress blogging Cape Cod Community College’s Showcase of Student Writing, ▪ Public speaking 2015 ▪ Research ▪ Fact-checking ▪ Infographics ACCOMPLISHMENTS ▪ Academic English Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, inducted March 2016 President’s List, Reynolds Community College, May 2016 Dean’s List, Reynolds Community College, Dec. 2015 REFERENCES 1. Jeff South, VCU Capital News service professor [email protected] | (804) 519-1062 2. Mary Ann Owens, VCU journalism professor [email protected] 3. Paul Fletcher, VCU journalism professor [email protected] The Washington Post

Local Businesses may get tax credits to train high school students

By Deanna Davison | AP January 23

RICHMOND, Va. — Juniors and seniors in Richmond City Public Schools would receive paid apprenticeships and training with local businesses, and participating employers would get tax credits from the state, under legislation filed by a bipartisan pair of lawmakers.

Republican Sen. Glen Sturtevant and Democratic Del. Jeffrey Bourne, who both represent the city in the General Assembly, are seeking to establish a pilot program for the 2018-19 or 2019-20 academic year.

Under the program, up to 25 Richmond students would receive “competitive compensation” while being trained in high-demand fields.

Sturtevant and Bourne say it is important to help students who do not pursue traditional college degrees prepare for the workforce.

“This pilot program will provide a great opportunity for bright and hardworking students to get hands-on experience,” Sturtevant said.

Participating local businesses would receive a $2,500 tax credit per student per semester. Student compensation would equal “no less than the value” of that credit. The total tax credits awarded by the state could not exceed $125,000 a year under the legislation.

Sturtevant and Bourne previously served together on the Richmond School Board for four years.

This story was produced by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Capital News Service. Menu &

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Friday, April 13, 2018

Northam delivers message of hope in inaugural address

Special to the Citizen | on January 15, 2018 By Deanna Davison and Sarah Danial, Capital News Service

Ralph Northam is sworn in as Virginia’s new governor Jan. 13.

Ralph Northam took ofﬁce as Virginia’s 73rd governor on Saturday and urged citizens to maintain the strong “moral compass deep in our hearts” to help guide the state forward.

In his inaugural address to a crowd of about 5,000 outside the state Capitol on a day of stinging cold, Northam reflected first on his childhood on the Eastern Shore, the time he spent fishing and crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay and the advice he received from his father.

“If things get dark or foggy, if you can’t ﬁnd your way,” his father said, “keep your eye on the compass. It’ll always bring you home safely.” Northam, 58, said Virginians can likewise rely on their inner compass.

“We all have a moral compass deep in our hearts, and it’s time to summon it again, because we have a lot of work to do,” said the former lieutenant governor and state senator.

Northam also spoke about transparency and the need for government ofﬁcials to bridge the political divides. His core policy platforms as governor, he said, are those he believes are nonpartisan: expanding health care, reducing gun violence and ensuring equal access to education.

Attorney General Mark Herring (left) and Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax (center, joined by his wife) applaud Ralph Northam during his inauguration Jan. 13.

“Virginians didn’t send us here to be Democrats or Republicans,” Northam said. “They sent us here to solve problems. The path to progress is marked by honest give and take among people who truly want to make life better for those around them.”

Northam was sworn in after fellow Democrats Justin Fairfax took the oath as lieutenant governor and Mark Herring was sworn in for a second term as attorney general.

The inauguration drew a pair of demonstrations: About two dozen people protested the controversial natural gas pipelines, shouting “water is life” during a moment of silence. A smaller group, United We Dream, demonstrated on behalf of immigrants.

Capitol Square ofﬁcially opened to the public at 9:30 a.m., and by 11:30 a.m., the stands were full. Spectators came prepared with heavy coats and gloves to brave the cold. Hot apple cider was served in blue Northam cups that said, “The Way Ahead.”

After the swearing-in ceremonies, representatives of Virginia’s Indian tribes gave a “Blessing of the Ground” for the new administration. Then the inaugural parade began, featuring dozens of groups from across the commonwealth. Cadets from Northam’s alma mater, Virginia Military Institute, marched across the grounds, saluting the new governor.

Northam’s first executive order was signed immediately after the parade. It “prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, political affiliation, or against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities in Virginia state government.”

Among the parade participants with a connection to Northam was the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. Northam served as a pediatric neurologist at the Norfolk hospital for 25 years. He said the lessons he learned there, including the importance of hope, will stay with him during his four years as governor.

“I have recognized the incredible power of hope and my responsibility to preserve it in the people I serve,” Northam said. “Hope is not just a source of comfort for the afflicted – it is a wellspring of energy to fight for a better tomorrow, no matter the odds. I am committed as your governor to fight every day for the hope that tomorrow will be better – for all of us, not just some of us.” SUBSCRIBE LOG IN 4 weeks for only 99¢

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'Safe Virginia' task force will address gun violence

By BY DEANNA DAVISON ASSOCIATED PRESS APR 03, 2018 | 2:30 PM

Virginia House Democrats announced the formation Tuesday of a "Safe Virginia" task force to address gun violence in communities across the commonwealth.

Del. Charniele Herring of Alexandria said the initiative is a direct response to House Republicans ' Select Committee on School Safety, which the GOP members said would not take up gun issues. The Democrats have sent a letter to House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, inviting Republican delegates to join the group.

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∠ Del. Kathleen Murphy of Fairfax, who will co-chair Safe Virginia with Del. Eileen Filler-Corn of Fairfax, said they commended Cox and Republicans for creating the select committee, which will hold its first meeting April 26. But Murphy said she believes it is important to do more and discuss questions regarding guns.

"It is not possible to separate school safety from gun safety," Murphy said. "People are focused on the tragedy of gun violence, so now is the time to move forward." ∠ ∠ Republican Del. Roxann Robinson of Chesterfield, a member of the select committee, said its efforts are also borne from the desire to do more. She said panel members want to focus on bipartisan school safety improvements without unduly burdening schools and taxpayers.

"The committee will not consider issues Republicans and Democrats disagree on, such as restricting gun access or arming teachers," Robinson said. "Rather, it will consider such tactics as adding metal detectors in schools, improving the check-in process for people visiting the school during school hours, and how to safely protect students in the event of an attack."

Murphy and Filler-Corn said the Safe Virginia task force will focus on gun violence not only in schools but across the state. They hope the recent spike in activism from young people in Virginia and the United States will inspire state lawmakers to take action. "Three out of the 10 deadliest mass shootings have taken place in our country in the last six months," Filler-Corn said. "We need to get to work to find common sense, bipartisan solutions to address this crisis." ∠ ∠ The House Democratic Caucus has selected regional chairs for the panel: Del. Delores McQuinn for Richmond, Del. Marcia Price for Hampton Roads, Del. John Bell for Northern Virginia and Del. Chris Hurst for Southwest Virginia.

Safe Virginia plans to hold meetings from May to October across Virginia to hear comments from constituents, law enforcement authorities and state and local leaders.

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ADVERTISEMENT House Panels Reject LGBTQ Anti- Discrimination Bills

By DEANNA DAVISON Associated Press

FEBRUARY 9, 2018, 4:00 PM | RICHMOND, VA.

ubcommittees in the House of Delegates killed several bills this week that would have expanded S protections for LGBTQ Virginians in housing and the workplace.

Two bills had passed the Senate late last month. Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, sponsored SB 202, which would have prohibited public employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Sen. Jennifer Wexton, D-Loudoun, sponsored SB 423, which would have included discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity as unlawful housing practices under the Virginia Fair Housing Law.

Both bills were tabled Thursday on 5-2 party-line votes by a subcommittee of the House General Laws Committee.

"It is painfully evident today that Virginia is not for all lovers," Wexton said afterward. "Simple access to a place to live without discrimination is a basic fundamental right of all people. It is shameful that the House Republicans killed this in subcommittee when it passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support."

Also on 5-2 votes, the General Laws subcommittee rejected HB 401, introduced by Del. Mark Levine, D- Alexandria, and HB 1547, by Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax. Those bills aimed to add the same protections in employment and housing on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Simon, who introduced his legislation for the fourth consecutive session, said the National Association of Realtors amended its code of ethics in January 2014 to guarantee nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. That guarantee should be included in Virginia's Fair Housing Law to protect individuals seeking housing from people who aren't Realtors, he said.

Bill Janis of the Family Foundation of Virginia, a faith-based nonprofit, said such anti-discrimination bills were unnecessary because of existing regulations.

"The largest employers in the Richmond area, Capital One and Virginia Commonwealth University . . . already have good hiring policies involving these issues," he said. "They're already hiring, in large measure, based on the qualifications and merits of the applications of the positions, not based on other criteria." Another bill regarding nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity was killed Tuesday in a House Commerce and Labor subcommittee. HB 1466, sponsored by Del. Debra Rodman, D-Henrico, would have prohibited health insurance providers from denying or limiting coverage to transgender Virginians.

Rodman's bill was rejected on a 5-3 vote, also along party lines.

This story was produced by Virginia Commonwealth University's Capital News Service.

This article is related to: U.S. Senate VCU Gun Violence Panel gets ‘Beyond the Politics’ By Deanna Davison, Capital News Service Posted Mar 19, 2018 at 3:13 PM Updated Mar 19, 2018 at 3:13 PM The town hall-style discussion was organized by the VCU Student Media Center and The Commonwealth Times, the student newspaper.

RICHMOND — Addressing gun violence in America often leaves gun control supporters and Second Amendment advocates at an impasse, a panel of experts said at a town hall-style discussion of the issue at Virginia Commonwealth University.

“Unfortunately, the U.S. Constitution doesn’t come with an operating manual; there is no guide to how amendments should be interpreted,” said John Aughenbaugh, a VCU political science professor. “Reasonable regulations are allowed by the government, but it gets complicated: What is a reasonable regulation?”

Aughenbaugh was joined on the panel Friday, March 16, by Lori Haas, Virginia’s director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence; Jessica Smith, former public safety initiatives coordinator at the Office of the Attorney General and a doctoral candidate at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs; and Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

About 50 students and others attended the event, which was organized by the VCU Student Media Center and The Commonwealth Times, the student newspaper. The title of the discussion was “Beyond the Politics.”

The idea behind the panel was that even in times of harsh partisan discourse, citizens with differing perspectives should be able to have civil discussions about public issues and work toward solutions. Panel moderator Fadel Allassan, the paper’s managing editor, reminded attendees that although gun violence is a tense and emotional issue, this was not a debate; it was a respectful discussion. Panelists agreed that discussing gun violence, and particularly mass shootings, can get muddied because of the terminology involved.

Haas said that while some public health experts may disagree, the FBI defines a “mass shooting” as four or more people killed in a single incident.

Part of what makes implementing public policy on mass shootings so difficult and unique to the U.S. is the Second Amendment, which protects the right to keep and bear arms.

“I think it’s a part of the American identity that being able to own and carry guns is a right we have,” Smith said.

But people often disagree on what exactly that means and how it should be regulated.

Van Cleave said gun control regulations are often unfair and give the government too much power. He said while he worries about guns ending up in the wrong hands, he believes individuals should be able to defend themselves, their families and their homes.

“I was a deputy sheriff for six years,” Van Cleave said. “I was able to see the importance of people protecting themselves before we could arrive.”

“When we can identify people at risk of violent behavior and we do nothing to disarm them, I think we are culpable,” said Haas, whose daughter survived the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. “I don’t think it’s about legal gun ownership at all.”

Panelists agreed on the struggles of moving forward on addressing gun violence without a clear universal goal, which makes it even more difficult to reach consensus on what solutions look like.

Smith said it is important for people on all sides of the issue to keep it in perspective.

“We are a system based on incrementalism,” Smith said. “If we pass regulations, that doesn’t mean everyone’s guns will be taken away, but it also doesn’t mean all gun violence will stop.”

“A complete and utter victory is not going to happen,” Aughenbaugh said. “Policy-making requires compromise. Listen to what the other side wants. We’re not going to have a conversation if we’re not willing to listen to each other.”

Virginia Commonwealth University journalism students cover the Virginia General Assembly and state politics through the university’s Capital News Service program.