Engaging Producing for People-Centered Stories
Powerful people-centered storytelling centers the voices of people who are most impacted. Often they hold marginalized identities. As a producer, I sweat the small stuff and bring a strong writing background to amplifying their voices.
Producing, like all of my work, is about building relationships.
- Local and cable news
- Townhall and special event
- Podcast
- Digital short
- Documentary
A good people-centered story is going to have mostly the same elements on a podcast or documentary. I’ve been fortunate to produce content in the following formats:
Over the course of my career, I’ve found that narrative structure is similar across media.
Produced Poppy Harlow’s The Boss Files podcast for CNN
Wrote over 500 scripts for Anderson Cooper, including all fact-checking and research
Managed field crews including Directors of Photography, photojournalists, producers and talent, overseeing both logistics and editorial content
Field-produced long-form pieces and breaking news coverage in high-pressure situations including wartime Ukraine, Uvalde, Texas, a maximum-security prison in Maine, an avalanche zone in the San Juan Mountains, white nationalist riots in Charlottesville and Washington D.C., earthquakes in Puerto Rico, tornados in Tennessee and many others
Produced CNN’s three-hour flagship morning newscast, New Day, as anchor John Berman’s main producer, responsible for all interview preparation and research, fact checking, and logistics
Currently lead producer on a major, four-hour, two-film pair of documentaries about the life and legacy of a major American figure, for American Experience at PBS