ElyseAndrews.com

Hi! My name is Elyse Andrews. I’m 22 years old and a recent graduate of Syracuse University with degrees in newspaper journalism and political science. I grew up in upstate New York and Florida. My family now lives in New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee.

My passion is newspapers. I love every aspect of them. I started as a writer and reporter and thought that’s where I’d always be. But then I was hired as a copy editor at The Daily Orange, the independent student newspaper of Syracuse University, and loved it. Walking home to my dorm at 3 a.m. after my first night of work I didn’t even feel tired. I was completely invigorated by my work and knew I had found my true love.

After discovering how much I enjoyed content editing, I began to learn about visuals. I learned the necessary technical skills and loved using my creative side. Visual editing and copy editing go hand-in-hand. They transform the writer’s words and photographer’s pictures into clear, beautiful packages for readers. I love putting the paper together, whether it’s writing the perfect headline or brainstorming art ideas.

My internships at The Meredith News and USA Today solidified this for me. I wrote and edited stories, took photos and did layout at The Meredith News and wrote for the Life section at USA Today. My time at USA Today resulted in a freelance story in the fall of 2005 about one of their All-USA Teachers.

When I became managing editor of The Daily Orange, I started making changes and innovating for the future. I assisted in the newspaper’s redesign and helped launch a new pullout weekend section. I devised a business and editorial plan to streamline special sections, such as sports guides, to maximize editorial and advertising content. I stayed up until 6:30 a.m. editing the biggest story the paper has ever run and then went to my communications law class at 8 a.m. and defended it. I learned the power of newspapers and to never take the First Amendment for granted.

Newspapers that I have worked for:

Awards

The Samuel V. Kennedy Award for Newspaper Editing
From the Newhouse school, given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated newsroom leadership and the potential to make a difference in newspaper editing.

Best Redesigned Paper 2006
Student Society of News Design, The Daily Orange

2005 Newspaper Pacemaker Finalist
Associated Collegiate Press, The Daily Orange

Best-Designed College Daily 2005
Student Society for News Design, The Daily Orange

Dean's List
Fall 2002 to present

Dean's Scholarship
from the Syracuse University Admissions Committee, 2002 through 2006

References

Dennis Kelly
USA Today
Senior assignment editor
703.854.2130