About Me
My name is Ahmad Austin and I'm journalist from Galloway Township, New Jersey. I earned my bachelor's degree in journalism at Rowan University in 2018 and am eager to make my mark in the industry as soon as possible.
Since graduating from Rowan, I have been a reporter for The Press of Atlantic City, beginning as a freelance reporter for its local publication The Current before eventually becoming a part-time sports writer and then full-time digital reporter. I've published hundreds of stories ranging from press releases to long-form features. Experience acquired along the way includes video and audio editing, man-on-the-street reporting, surveying social media for scoops, and writing under tight deadlines.
With my experience encompassing various levels of the journalistic process -- in addition to my endless desire to learn -- I can be a vital part of any team willing to give me the opportunity.
Work Experience
Carmine's Italian Restaurant (2015 - Present)
As a busser, I am responsible for cleaning tables and assisting servers whenever needed. Daily duties include packaging food for guests, preparing complementary bread and all-around restaurant upkeep.
The Whit (2017 - 2018)
As a staff writer, I had a handful of published pieces in Rowan University's newspaper. This included both original reporting and writing through interviews and observation at various events.
Community Safety Assistant (2016 - 2018)
As a Rowan University Community Safety Assistant, I was responsible for upholding campus conduct within the residence halls of the university. My nightly duties involved patrolling residence halls, assisting students with various problems when needed and filing incident reports for any manner of transgression.
SNJ Today (September 2017 - December 2017)
As an intern at SNJ Today, I was responsible for several aspects of the newspaper. I transcribed interviews, completed weekly event calendars and obituaries, reformatted television news scripts into online articles, and even wrote many of my own articles.
Rowan Radio On-Air Personality (2015 - 2018)
Rowan Radio Sports Commentary (2015 - 2018)
As a play-by-play commentator, I was responsible for telling the story of the game as it was happening. I had to be the eyes of the listeners. As a color commentator, I had to give in-depth game analysis and break down every aspect of every play.
The Current (August 2018 - October 2018)
As a freelance journalist for The Current of Absecon/Pleasantville, I reported on various local events, from art festivals to city council meetings. I was responsible for writing articles, creating photo galleries if an event was worthy of being photographed, and editing and creating videos.
The Press of Atlantic City, part-time (October 2018 - Present)
As a sports writer for The Press, my pieces included game stories and features. Game stories consisted of attending various sports matches, taking notes during them, going down to the field/court to interview players and coaches, and then turning it into a story within an hour to make the print deadline. Features covered a multitude of topics within the sports realm, such as local high school athletes committing to play in college.
Press of Atlantic City, full-time (January 2021 - present)
As a full-time digital reporter, I'm responsible for rewriting press releases, posting content on the Press website, surveying social media for story ideas and tracking online viewership. Also tasked with 1-2 longer articles per week.
Education
Rowan University
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Class of 2018
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Bachelor's Degree in Journalism