Amy Renee Leiker Portfolio Writing Amy Renee Leiker Website: http://amyreneeleiker.com Twitter: @amyreneeleiker E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 316-305-2505 Table of Contents About Me Portfolio Journalism Résumé Newspaper Clips: Feature Articles Newspaper Clips: News Articles Writing Contact Information About Me Since January 2011, I’ve dedicated a slice of my life each week to reporting, writing and learning the ropes (translation: how to trick the computer system into working) at The Wichita Eagle in Wichita, Kan., where I’m an intern. In that time, I’ve been inspired by a mom whose 5-year-old boy, by all rights, should have died at birth. I’ve watched another mother weep over the sweet, autistic son she lost in a drowning accident in 2010. I flew in a fully restored WWII B-24 bomber, and I’m terrified of heights. I’ve reported from the scene of a murder-suicide; a stabbing among high school girls (the cops called it an ongoing feud); a rollover accident where a conscious semi driver jackknifed his truck to block traffic -- he saved the lives of two motorcyclists, a state trooper told me, who laid their bike down to avoid being crushed by a car. Once, a thick-knee bird with an unnatural attraction to humans attacked my jeans at the Sedgwick County Zoo. I’ve sunk knee-deep in mud at a dried- up Butler County Lake. I’ve seen dogs tracking humans, a church service at Cheney Lake and a solider meet his 3-month-old son for the first time. I wrote stories about them all. I am interested in working as a staff reporter for a news outlet. My passion is crime reporting, but I am versatile; I have experience writing features and general-interest articles. I believe I would be a solid fit for any news organiza- tion after working alongside the editors, staff and other reporters at The Wichita Eagle, Kansas’ largest newspaper. I take each story assignment seriously, regard- less of its subject, and strive to give readers accurate, error-free, concise and stimulating writing every time. It’s time I work for you. - Amy Renee Leiker Journalism Résumé Amy Renee Leiker 335 W. 33rd St. S., Wichita, KS 67217 • 316-305-2505 • [email protected] Education B.A. in Communication/Journalism. Wichita State University, Wichita, KS. May 2012. B.A. in Anthropology. Wichita State University. Wichita, KS. May 2012. Work Experience April ‘11 – present Copy editor, Dr. Jens Kreinath, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS. • Review and edit scholarly anthropology papers prior to publication • Copyedited intro and title pages to The Anthropology of Islam Reader Jan. ‘11 – present Reporting intern, The Wichita Eagle, Wichita, KS. • Report on and write feature, hard news and crime articles • Host a reporter “shadow” (student) from Wichita State University Oct. ‘10 – present Writing tutor/copy editor, McNair Scholars Program, Wichita, KS. • Tutor 28 WSU undergraduates preparing for graduate studies • Copyedit annual program report, research journal, monthly newsletters, reports May ‘04 – March ‘05 Office assistant/fundraiser, The ALS Association, Wichita, KS. • Wrote for ALS newsletter called “The Dialog,” copyedited, fundraised Feb. ‘04 – Feb. ‘05 Beat reporter, The Ark Valley News, Valley Center, KS. • Covered Park City and city council beats, some high school sports Aug. ‘03 – May ‘04 Beat reporter, The Sunflower, Wichita, KS. • Covered Wichita State faculty and staff senates Dec. ‘98 – Oct. ‘01 Print journalist, The Times Sentinel Newspapers/West Side Story, Cheney, KS. May ’01 – Oct. ‘01 • Graphic design intern: build advertisements for newspaper May ’00 – Feb. ‘01 • Reporting intern: covered city council, wrote features Dec. ’98 – Oct. ‘01 • Sports/portrait photographer Dec. ’98 – July ‘01 • Darkroom technician: developed black/white 35mm film, printed photos Other Relevant Work Experience Sept. ‘05 – Aug. ‘10 Typist, U.S. Postal Service Remote Encoding Center, Wichita, KS. • Processed mail with 97.5-percent accuracy and 11,000-plus keystrokes per hour Oct. ‘01 – Aug. ‘03 Office assistant/assistant manager, Lakeview Community, Wichita, KS. Board/Professional Organization Student Memberships WSU Board of Student Publications Wichita Professional Communicators Kansas Professional Communicators National Federation of Press Women American Association of University Women Academic Honors/Scholarships Oliver Elliott School of Communication Scholarship: Spring and Fall 2011, Spring 2012 Victor Murdock Scholarship in Journalism: 2000-2004, Fall 2011 American Association of University Women Scholarship: Fall 2011 Wichita Professional Communicators Scholarship: Spring 2011 Sports Daily/KFH Scholarship: Spring 2011 Society of Professional Journalists Scholarship References Tom Shine, deputy editor/news Les Anderson, professor LaWanda Holt-Fields, director The Wichita Eagle Wichita State University WSU McNair Scholars Program 316-268-6268 316-978-6065 316-978-3139 Feature Articles Newspaper Clips Articles Feature TALK TO US: Call Jean Hays, 316-268-6557, or e-mail 1B [email protected] WWW.KANSAS.COM/NEWS FRIDAY LOCAL&STATE JUNE 24, 2011 AREA NEWS Officials call Old Town fire arson IN BRIEF BY RICK PLUMLEE but the investigation is continuing. business around 2004, said Laurie response by units from two nearby The Wichita Eagle No one was in the building at 246 N. Johnson, president of Branson and stations and a fire wall helped pre- Vote on Six’s Emporia at the time of the fire, shortly Associates, a commercial real estate vent the fire from spreading to a Officials have ruled arson as the after 10 p.m. Wednesday. There were business. neighboring business to the north, nomination cause of Wednesday night’s fire at a no injuries. Damage was listed at She said Branson and Associates Crisp said. A parking lot is south of commercial building on North $30,000, including $20,000 for the leases the building from her mother’s the building. delayed again Emporia in Old Town. structure, according to fire investiga- estate and uses it mostly to store Fire officials are asking anyone “We can certainly say it was arson,” tors. paperwork. with information about the fire to call TOPEKA — The U.S. Senate Wichita Fire Marshal Brad Crisp said Sedgwick County lists the property “They’re saying it’s arson,” Johnson the Wichita Fire Department at 316- Judiciary Committee has delayed Thursday. “We’ll keep the exact cause as owned by Branson Construction said of fire investigators, “or a home- 337-9148 or Crime Stoppers at 316- a vote again on former Kansas of the fire close to the vest because Inc. with an appraised value of less person — up to mischief, I guess. 267-2111. Attorney General Steve Six’s there’s obviously some folks we need $63,400. That’s what they indicated to me.” nomination to a federal appeals to talk to first.” Branson Construction once operated Firefighters brought the fire under Reach Rick Plumlee at 316-268-6660 or court. No suspects have been identified, out of the building but went out of control in about 15 minutes. Quick [email protected]. Six’s nomination to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Denver, was on the committee’s agenda Thursday. But Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., announced it was being held over because some com- mittee members want more dis- cussion. Anti-abortion groups hope to derail the nomination of Six, a 1960s child refugees Democrat, over how criminal cases involving abortion providers were handled while he was attorney general. Kansas’ two senators, Republicans Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, have announced their opposition to his confirma- revisit Wichita home tion. Six was appointed attorney general in January 2008 when his predecessor resigned over a sex scandal. Six lost his race last Jaime Green/The Wichita Eagle year to keep the office. This lion is one of nine animals from Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, N.D., that — Associated Press are staying at Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Floods forced the animals’ relocation. Motorcycle rally to benefit American Red Cross The American Red Cross will Flooded host its annual Ride for the Red poker run and motorcycle rally on Saturday in Wichita. The fundraiser starts at 8 a.m. zoo sends at the Red Cross, 1900 E. Douglas, followed by a 100-mile scenic road trip. Bikers will have a chance to win a Las Vegas animals to vacation. Proceeds benefit the Red Cross chapter in Wichita. Registration is $20 from 8 a.m. Tanganyika to 4 p.m. today at the Red Cross office or online at www.wichi- BY SARAH RAJEWSKI tarideforthered.org. VIP registra- Fernando Salazar/The Wichita Eagle The Wichita Eagle tion is $40. George Coba from Miami hugs a roommate from his days at If you go Registration is available the Mariana Boys Home. Cuban children arrived in Wichita as As a female lion sat in a pool at Saturday morning for an addi- refugees in the 1960s through the government’s Operation PETER PAN Tanganyika Wildlife Park on Thursday, tional $5 per person. Active mili- Peter Pan program. she splashed and chased her tail in a cir- tary ride for free. APPRECIATION EVENT cle. For more information, call BY AMY RENEE LEIKER ry ago toured their childhood What: The Operation Peter Pan Civic “Pretty girl, what are you doing? 316-219-4095. The Wichita Eagle home Thursday. Act of Appreciation event, where Playing in the water?” asked park owner Their visit to Mariana Boys Cuban refugees who came to Wichita Jim Fouts. — Amy Renee Leiker hough the Mariana Boys Home marks the start of a four- as children in the 1960s will thank the The lion arrived at Tanganyika in the Home now houses attor- day reunion celebrating the city of Wichita and Catholic Charities. first week of June with a group of animals Free shredding event neys and therapists, 50 50th anniversary of Operation More than 14,000 children fled Cuba from the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, planned for Saturday years ago there was a Peter Pan, a government-run between 1960 and 1962 and lived in N.D.