Communications director
Boise, Idaho Area
- Current
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- Owner at Write the Change
- Past
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- Communications director at Idaho Democratic Party
- writer and online organizer at Everyday Democracy
- Political operative at Various
- Newspaper journalist at Various
- Education
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- Ohio University
- Recommended
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8 people have recommended Julie - Connections
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127
connections
- Industry
- Political Organization
- Websites
Julie Fanselow’s Summary
Small-d democracy, Big-D Democratic politics, the glamour and grunt work of travel writing and newspaper journalism ... and I'm only a little more than midway through my working life.
In October 2008 (five weeks before the election!), I became communications director for the Idaho Democratic Party. I now work full time to help elect Democrats to serve Idaho's working families in our cities, counties, state and federal government.
From September 2007 through September 2008, I was a writer and online organizer for Everyday Democracy (formerly known as the Study Circles Resource Center), a nonpartisan, national nonprofit that helps communities create positive change. I ran Everyday Democracy's blog, DemocracySpace.org; I collaborated with others in the public engagement community; and I helped community organizers to use the Internet to promote their programs and work with others. Before taking this position, I worked with SCRC for many years as a contract writer.
In the middle part of this decade, I was blog manager and netroots coordinator for the Larry Grant for Congress campaign (ID-01) in 2005-'06. Larry was named a national netroots candidate and the Grassroots for Grant blog was named the region's best campaign blog by the Northwest Progressive Institute. I also helped 2008 U.S. Senate candidate Larry LaRocco kick start his campaign in 2007.
Before that, I was a widely published writer for book publishers and consumer magazines. My byline appeared in magazines including Sunset, American Heritage, United Airlines Hemispheres, Parade, Entertainment Weekly, Via, and dozens more. I also was the author of numerous books including Traveling the Lewis & Clark Trail and several guides for Lonely Planet. I still keep my hand in a little travel writing as the author of Idaho Off the Beaten Path (Globe Pequot), which was released in its seventh edition in June 2008.
Julie Fanselow’s Specialties:
Writing, research, blogging, ghostwriting, editing, interviewing, organizing, networking, brainstorming, relationship-building, dot-connecting.
Julie Fanselow’s Experience
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Owner
Write the Change
(Writing and Editing industry)
November 1991 — Present (18 years 1 month)
Write the Change is my freelance writing business. I'm currently working on the 8th(!) edition of my guidebook Idaho Off the Beaten Path, published by The Globe Pequot Press. It'll be out in the summer of 2010.
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Communications director
Idaho Democratic Party
(Non-Profit; Political Organization industry)
October 2008 — November 2009 (1 year 2 months)
I serve as communications specialist and party spokesperson, and I work with party leaders and grassroots organizers to deliver Democratic messages and critique Republican policies.
Idaho remains among the most lopsidedly Republican states in the nation, but recent electoral trends are encouraging. I am dedicated to bringing real two-party debate back to our beautiful state. -
writer and online organizer
Everyday Democracy
(Civic & Social Organization industry)
April 2002 — September 2008 (6 years 6 months)
From 2002 through 2008, I was a contributing writer to Everyday Democracy (formerly the Study Circles Resource Center), where I launched the blog www.DemocracySpace.org, wrote magazine feature-style stories about communities working to create positive change, and coached communities on how to use the Internet.
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Political operative
Various
(Political Organization industry)
November 2005 — September 2007 (1 year 11 months)
In 2005-06, I was the blog manager for Larry Grant's campaign for Congress in Idaho. I networked with Idaho bloggers and the national progressive political netroots community (Daily Kos, DNC, DNCC, etc) and performed various organizational and writing tasks within the campaign.
Larry was one of 19 Democrats chosen as national netroots candidates and came within 5% of winning in a district that George W. Bush won by close to 40% in 2004. The New York Times included me on a list of the most influential bloggers who worked on campaigns in 2006.
My other political experience includes paid work with Jerry Brady (candidate for governor of Idaho, 2006) and Larry LaRocco, whose U.S. Senate campaign I helped launch in 2007. I've also done volunteer work with numerous campaigns, and I am the founder (2003) of Red State Rebels, one of Idaho's top political blogs. -
Newspaper journalist
Various
(Newspapers industry)
September 1982 — November 1991 (9 years 3 months)
I worked as a reporter and editor at several newspapers including the Salem (Ohio) News, the Youngstown (Ohio) Vindicator, the (Twin Falls, Idaho) Times-News, and the Yakima (Washington) Herald-Republic.
Julie Fanselow’s Education
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Ohio University
BSJ , Journalism, political science , 1979 — 1982
Completed bachelor's degree in three years
- Activities and Societies:
- The Post (student newspaper), ACRN (campus radio station), Pop Concert Committee
Additional Information
Julie Fanselow’s Websites:
Julie Fanselow’s Interests:
civic involvement, books, movies, music, walking/hiking, flat-water and sea kayaking
Julie Fanselow’s Groups:
American Society of Journalists and Authors, Idaho Democrats, Northwest Progressive Institute, Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, New Organizing Institute, City Club of Boise
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Obama for America -
Government 2.0 -
Linked Local Boise Valley, ID
Julie Fanselow’s Honors:
Northwest Progressive Institute blog awards
(best local coverage, best campaign blog)
Koufax (best liberal blogs) nominee
Mayor's Award in the Arts, Twin Falls, Idaho
Writing honors from the Associated Press, the Idaho Press Club, and the National Association for Interpretation
Julie Fanselow’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- getting back in touch
