DEBORAH HOWLETT
Lecturer II
School of Communication and Information
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
deborah.howlett@rutgers.edu
EDUCATION
M.A. Liberal Studies, University of Delaware (incomplete)
Knight Journalism Fellowship, University of Michigan , 1999-2000
B.S. Journalism, University of Oregon, June 1995
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 2010-Present
Lecturer II, Department of Journalism and Media Studies
Courses Taught:
- Gender, Race and Class in the Media (JMS 215): Core class in the major, examining the the media and its affect on American culture, including introducing theories of media analysis, risks of production, and representation of women and people of color.
- Strategic Presentation Methods in Digital Media (DCIM 251) Popular lecture and lab using web-based and multi-media presentation tools to connect with audiences and convey a desired message for a social change organization. Adopted by the University as a Core Learning Goal course.
- Capstone in Digital Communication, Information and Media (DCIM 451): Synthesizes what the student learned in the program through a directed final project. Required for the minor.
Media and Government: Lecture on political and government reporting.
University of Pennsylvania, 2021-present
Instructor, Department of Urban Studies, part-time
Course taught:
- Urban Journalism: Examines the state of journalism, with emphasis on how large papers are redefining themselves, and the news, in an area of dwindling readership and growing financial pressures. Includes ethics, online journalism, alternative sources of news and reporting techniques.
University of Delaware, 2017-2020
Instructor, Department of English, full-time faculty position teaching journalism.
Coordinator of the Journalism minor (2019-2020)
Faculty advisor to the independent weekly student newspaper
Faculty Senate, member of the Committee on Faculty Welfare and Privileges (2018-2020)
Interim internship coordinator (2017-18)
Courses Taught:
- Social Journalism & Start-ups: Designed and taught senior-level course examining the use of multi-media tools and social media platforms to create and publish a capstone entrepreneurial journalism project.
- Depth Reporting: Designed and taught upper level seminar applying traditional investigative reporting techniques to digital data and public documents.
- Sports Writing: Designed and taught upper level course for Journalism minors.
- Journalism in a Free Society: Required initial course for journalism minor. (Responsible for redesign in Summer 2018 to meet University and College of Arts and Science breadth requirement Group B, history and cultural change.)
- News Writing and Editing: Introductory course covering the essential elements of reporting and writing.
- Reporting Practicum: Lab class aimed at developing writing and reporting skills, with the aim of being published in the weekly student newspaper.
CERTIFICATIONS
Course Design Institute, Summer Institute on Teaching, Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning , University of Delaware
College Media Association, Adviser Certification
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Representations of women and non-binary athletes in sports media
Low-cost digital media to enable local and small-scale publishers and platforms
PRESENTATIONS & PAPERS
Emerge NJ, Woodbridge, NJ, 2014-2017: Developed and presented a media relations curriculum for women considering running for elected office.
Anti-Poverty Network, Monroe, NJ, 2014-2015: Annual convention speaker, Social Media for Nonprofits
Sustainable Brands San Diego, CA, 2013: Start-up of the Year presenter, demonstrating and pitching the Amplification Project
Hack Jersey, Montclair, NJ, 2012: Co-organizer of an inaugural public data “hack-a-thon” for journalists and coders in cooperation with the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. Hacker teams developed digital news stories from publicly available data.
Annie E. Casey Foundation, Denver, CO, 2012: Presenter for national communication training of state affiliates of KIDS COUNT program. Lectures: “Visualizing Data” and “How to Write for the Internet.”
Economic Analysis and Research Network, Milwaukee, WI, 2012: Annual convention program panelist discussing public tax incentives for corporations.
Various television appearances include Today Show, CNN, C-SPAN, MSNBC, News12NJ Power and Politics, and NJ Now.
MEMBERSHIPS
- National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, 1992-present
- Online News Association, 2014-present
- Investigative Reporters & Editors, 2017-present
- US Lacrosse, 2012-present
- American Federation of Teachers, 2010-2017
- New Jersey Press Association, 2004-present
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
New Jersey State House News Service, 2022-present
Founder and editor of nonprofit student journalism teaching lab to develop and train a new generation of journalists by reporting on the New Jersey Legislature, state government, and politics for more than 120 media partners statewide.
The Daily Pennsylvanian, 2020-2022
General Manager for the independent student newspaper at the University of Pennsylvania. Served as chief operating officer and editorial advisor to a student staff of 100 or more journalists.
dhMedia, 2012-2017
Owned communications consultancy focused on building multi-media and social media capacity in small non-profits. Clients included the Anti-Poverty Network of NJ, Emerge NJ, NJ State Bar Association, The Amplification Project, and Rutgers-Newark.
NJ Policy Perspective, 2010-2012
Executive director of the leading tax, budget and social welfare policy think tank in the state capital. Responsible for fundraising; oversaw editorial production; managed a staff of seven.
State of New Jersey, Office of the Governor, 2008-2010
Directed communications for the governor’s office and all executive branch agencies, including overseeing each office of communications and the office of the press secretary during the Jon S. Corzine administration. Wrote and edited speeches, congressional testimony and news releases. Created the first social media accounts for a sitting governor in New Jersey on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Created the first in-house video production unit.
The (Newark) Star-Ledger, 2004-2008
Senior reporter in the State House bureau covering New Jersey state government and politics.
USA Today, 1987-2004
Chicago bureau chief for the largest general circulation daily newspaper in the U.S. Previous roles included covering national reporting, politics, and the White House. National assignments included covering two Super Bowls, eight political conventions, four hurricanes, two earthquakes, the O.J. Simpson murder trial, the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building and the aftermath of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. Significant overseas assignments, including covering conflict in Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, Kosovo, Rwanda, and Zaire (DR of Congo).
Statesman-Journal (Salem, OR), 1984-1987
Hired as a sports reporter following a summer internship; moved to the education beat and then covered politics and government for the newspaper based in the state capital.
Oregon Daily Emerald (Eugene, OR) 1983-1984
Editor-in-Chief of the independent campus newspaper; responsible for all editorial content; managed a staff of 40 student journalists.
HONORS & AWARDS
- Sustainable Brands Start-Up of the Year, Amplification Project, 2013
- Co-founder of a digital start up to “amplify” the messages of several nonprofit and social activist organizations using low-cost, emerging digital technology
- American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award, 2006
- Writer on a team that won the national news award for reporting on the effect of the USA PATRIOT Act five years after enactment.
- SPJ/SDX Region IX “Rookie of the Year,” 1985, Portfolio of work in sports, education and politics
- William Randolph Hearst Journalism Awards, Feature Writing, 1984, A five-part, datelined series describing the political, social, military and economic climate in post-revolutionary Nicaragua under the Sandinista regime.
- William Randolph Hearst Journalism Awards, Feature Writing, 1983, Story about University of Oregon President Paul Olum and distinguished biology professor Aaron Novick and their work together on the Manhattan Project, which helped develop an atomic bomb.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
- Hopewell Valley Lacrosse League, 2010-2019. Coach and president of a nine-member board that oversees a recreational youth sports program that teaches lacrosse to 200 boys and girls in grades K-8. Also coached at all levels.
- EmergeNJ, 2013-2014. Vice President of the governing board for an organization that helps prepare women to run for elected office.
- New Jersey Citizen Action, 2010-2012. Member of the board that advised nonprofit organization on management.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
- Microsoft systems, including PowerPoint, Excel and Access
- Mac systems, including iMovie, Garage Band, Numbers, Pages, and Keynote
- WordPress
- CS Adobe, InDesign, Photoshop
- Final Cut Pro
- CMS systems, including Mail Chimp, BlackBaud, Constant Contact, VAN and Salsa
- Social Media applications: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, You Tube, Vimeo, Google+, Twitch, Snapchat, TikTok
- Open source publishing and creative software, including GIMP, Audacity, Inkscape, Creative Commons
- DSLR camera for video and still images
- Canvas, Blackboard educational management systems