Communications intern at Maricopa Association of Governments
Phoenix, Arizona Area
- Current
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- Communications intern at Maricopa Association of Governments
- Columnist at The State Press
- Past
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- Editorial/research intern at Pain Solutions Magazine
- Student Counselor, Summer Journalism Institute at Arizona State University
- Editorial intern at Phoenix Business Journal
- Business Reporter at The State Press
- Editorial intern at The Arizona Republic
- Police reporter at The State Press
- Freelance writer at The State Press Magazine
- Business and general assignment reporter at The State Press
- Education
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- Arizona State University
- McClintock High School
- Recommended
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2 people have recommended Matt - Connections
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connections
- Industry
- Online Media
- Websites
Matt Culbertson’s Summary
On my first day as a college freshman, I had a front-page article in the Arizona State student newspaper about a campus protest. Since then, I’ve authored more than 300 articles for media outlets like the Phoenix Business Journal and Pain Solutions Magazine, a new national consumer medical magazine with an estimated readership in the millions.
One story I wrote and shot photos of — a police-involved traffic collision — had the fifth-most page views for the entire year of 2008 on azcentral.com, one of the most-trafficked news Web sites in Arizona. I’ve covered areas like business, public safety, health and government for six major publications at the college and professional level. I've had the opportunity to conduct more than a thousand interviews of people from across society, including politicians, drug dealers, medical researchers and law enforcement.
I’m studying online media at ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. I’ve observed from the front lines the rapidly-evolving media landscape, which has radically changed the business model of every media outlet that I’ve worked for during my college career. I’m very interested in new media, especially the challenges facing any objective press trying to turn a profit from an online operation.
Currently, I'm working in the public sector as a communications intern, having recently completed my internship at Pain Solutions Magazine. At the Maricopa Association of Governments, I write press releases, compile information for elected officials and handle miscellaneous tasks such as soliciting bids for a government contract. I'm also working on social media strategies for MAG. I've really enjoyed the dynamics of working in journalism and PR, romanticized to me lately by movies like "State of Play" and "Thank You for Smoking."
I'm also involved with the Knight Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship, which looks to innovate new products and platforms for 21st century communication.
Matt Culbertson’s Specialties:
Business reporting, medical reporting, investigative journalism, breaking news, media relations, public outreach, social media, research functions.
Matt Culbertson’s Experience
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Communications intern
Maricopa Association of Governments
(Government Agency; Government Administration industry)
August 2009 — Present (6 months)
• Researching and writing press releases and newsletters
• Compiling information for elected officials
• Assisting in citizen outreach and media and government relations functions
• Developing social media policies, procedures and strategies in accordance with MAG's mission and goals -
Columnist
The State Press
(Newspapers industry)
February 2009 — Present (1 year )
• Write regular column for student newspaper on self-chosen topics, including Internet advertising models, American political ideologies and private-sector partnerships at ASU
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Editorial/research intern
Pain Solutions Magazine
(Writing and Editing industry)
June 2009 — December 2009 (7 months)
• Write articles and fact-check pages, conduct research on medical issues and legislation for national consumer medical magazine that launched in September 2009 with an expected readership of more than 6 million per quarterly issue
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Student Counselor, Summer Journalism Institute
Arizona State University
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
June 2009 — June 2009 (1 month)
• Facilitated intensive, two-week high school journalism workshop teaching multimedia, journalism ethics and reporting skills
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Editorial intern
Phoenix Business Journal
(Privately Held; Newspapers industry)
January 2009 — June 2009 (6 months)
• Covered market trends in Phoenix metropolitan area, wrote breaking business news for the Web, reported finance, real estate, profile and enterprise stories
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Business Reporter
The State Press
(Newspapers industry)
August 2008 — December 2008 (5 months)
• Covered business topics relating to all four ASU campuses and nearby communities
• Developed stories on subjects relating to the Arizona economy, business negotiations, marketing strategies and other newsworthy items -
Editorial intern
The Arizona Republic
(Public Company; GCI; Newspapers industry)
May 2008 — August 2008 (4 months)
• Wrote breaking news stories, features and other articles and updated them throughout the day at one of Arizona’s most trafficked news Web sites
• Took photos that were uploaded online and published in the daily newspaper
• Produced articles for the print version of The Arizona Republic and assisted other reporters as needed
• Worked closely with other ASU student interns in newsgathering efforts, setting the then-Cronkite School record for monthly page views on azcentral.com -
Police reporter
The State Press
(Newspapers industry)
December 2007 — April 2008 (5 months)
• Covered breaking news and other stories relating to public safety around ASU and the East Valley
• Investigated and wrote feature articles that were picked up by local and state media
• Received third-place regional college journalism award from the Society of Professional Journalists -
Freelance writer
The State Press Magazine
(Writing and Editing industry)
October 2007 — January 2008 (4 months)
• Innovated in-depth story ideas on topics such as ASU students involved in the drug trade
• Spent two months interviewing law enforcement, current and former drug dealers and illegal drug users for magazine cover story about drug trafficking -
Business and general assignment reporter
The State Press
(Newspapers industry)
August 2007 — December 2007 (5 months)
• Wrote mostly front-page news and enterprise stories on business and other topics
• Broke news in mainstream Valley media throughout the semester, including the possibility of ASU claiming eminent domain to move forward a $500 million proposal to demolish and rebuild fraternity housing at ASU
• Received award from editors for best news story
Matt Culbertson’s Education
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Arizona State University
2007 — 2011 (expected)
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McClintock High School
High School Diploma , N/A , 2003 — 2007
Additional Information
Matt Culbertson’s Websites:
Matt Culbertson’s Interests:
Journalism, my college experience at ASU, Student Media, writing, current events, politics, the outdoors, weightlifting, sports, etc.
Matt Culbertson’s Groups:
Arizona State University, The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, The State Press, The State Press Magazine, Society of Professional Journalists, SDTV, ASU Student Media
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State Press
Matt Culbertson’s Honors:
• 3rd place, General News Writing in 2009 regional college journalism competition, Society of Professional Journalists
• "Best News Story" of Fall 2007, awarded by editors of The State Press
• Al Neuharth Free Spirit Award Recipient and Arizona Representative 2007
• East Valley Tribune All-City Journalism Scholar 2007
• Tempe Top Teen 2007
• Arizona Republic Top High School Journalist 2007
• Award Recipient from a 2007 statewide high school journalism competition sponsored by Arizona Press Women
o 1st place sports writing
o 2nd place news writing
o 3rd place collaborative news writing
Matt Culbertson’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
