Ashleigh N. DeLuca
Journalist &
Communications Specialist
ABOUT ME
As a highly-motivated and results-driven content producer, I have a proven track record of providing creative, engaging and high-performing digital content. I am always looking for new opportunities where I can further develop my skills and make an impact within the organizations where I work. What I bring to the table: strong communication skills in written and oral forms to audiences of all sizes; successful digital content creation including videos, articles, blogs and social media; and proven project and people management and problem-solving skills. My success derives from my passion for storytelling and creative thinking.
WORK HISTORY
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Writing
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Ghostwriting and editing corporate blog posts in accordance with brand guidelines and tone.
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Communications
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Building and designing pitch decks and informational presentations.
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Maintaining websites using Squarespace or Wix.
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Developing marketing plans including events, publications, and social media.
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Designing basic marketing materials including brochures and social media graphics.
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Journalist & Communications Consultant
FREELANCE
2019-Present
New York
Founding Director
2008 - 2019
Makumbaya, The Gambia
This is an academic scholarship program that I established after teaching English in rural Gambia during my gap year before college. This program was developed to ensure that eighteen Gambian middle school students living below the poverty line could afford to stay in school through high school. Students were accepted to over 10 American colleges with scholarships. The first student began her degree on January 7, 2019. She is the first in her village to receive a US a college education. From October 2008 to April 2018, I worked on this program part time but when our success picked up momentum in May 2018, I chose to manage the program full-time.
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Marketing Communications Strategy
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Developed all marketing communications such as press releases, social media/email campaigns, video explainers and pitches /briefs for government officials including The Gambian First Lady, Gambian Ambassador, US State Department officials, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s communications team, and several Gambian Deputy Ministers.
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Strategically used media coverage to continue the project’s momentum and overcome barriers to our success.
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Executive management
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Created vision and structure of program, established budget and fundraising parameters, formalized program strategy, coordinated all SAT preparation and registration logistics as well as college applications.
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Built a team of volunteers, interns, and tutors who helped support research, public relations, and fundraising activities.
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Sales/Business Development
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Surpassed fundraising goal by soliciting individual donations via social media campaigns and local fundraising events.
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Coordinated partnership agreement between Gambian Embassy and Starling Sponsorship Program to support the students in their pursuit of a college degree.
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Successfully pitched partnership proposal to colleges around the world in which I requested that the schools provide full scholarships to the students.
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Researched and pitched story ideas; coordinated, conducted and shot interviews; regularly edited news packages within tight deadlines; wrote articles to accompany digital videos.
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Led the development of special projects with high-level interviews at The White House, Capitol Hill and the Pentagon; including Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Cory Booker, the Navy Secretary and USAID Administrator.
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Developed and implemented a system to streamline story management across the bureau.
Producer
GRAY TV, WASHINGTON BUREAU
2017 - 2018
Washington, DC
Brand Associate
WOMEN'S WORLD BANKING
2015 - 2017
New York, NY
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Point of contact for internal marketing requests and liaised with various teams to facilitate efficient work flow. Educated staff on brand communication priorities.
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Supervised network of freelance consultants on a variety of projects resulting in successful production of communications materials such as annual reports, blog posts, case studies, research one-pagers and video explainers.
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Wrote/edited collateral from blog posts and press releases to speaker pitches and presentations.
Editorial Coordinator
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
2013-2015
Washington, DC
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Authored articles from small blogs to features and produced news videos; included developing and pitching ideas, researching, interviewing, writing on deadline and editing collaboration. Interviews included: Head Athletic Trainer for the NHL's Washington Capitals and New York Times Bestselling author, Diana Gabaldon. Content consistently performed in the top 10 most read articles on news site.
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Developed and implemented a database management system to centralize and streamline award application process across editorial and photography teams.
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Awarded the 2015 National Geographic Green Grant for an enterprising volunteer project that connected the magazine with the local DC homeless community.
SKILLS
GENERAL
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Relationship development
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Project management
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Public speaking
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Presentation design
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Event planning
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Team collaboration
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Team management
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Social media implementation
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Knowledge of website-building tools
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Working under tight deadlines
WRITING
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News writing
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Editing
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Interviewing
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Research/fact checking
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Blogging
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AP style
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Press releases
Click here to view clips.
VIDEO PRODUCTION
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Video editing
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Lighting
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Story pitching
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Researching
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Interviewing
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Color grading
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Chroma keying
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Camera operation
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Quick setup/breakdown
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Sound recording/editing
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Studio & field shooting
PROGRAM KNOWLEDGE
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Photoshop
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Premiere
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InDesign
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MailChimp
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WordPress
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Final Cut Pro
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Microsoft Office
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Salesforce
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Media Encoder
LANGUAGES
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English- native
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Spanish- limited working proficiency
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Mandarin- limited working proficiency
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French- elementary proficiency
EDUCATION
The George Washington University
Communications, Bachelors of Arts and Sciences
Graduated: 2013
Washington, DC
*Nominated for the 2013 Excellence in Leadership Award for creating and executing the school’s first week-long orientation program for exchange students. This program structure continues to be used by GWU today.
The University of Melbourne
Semester Exchange Program
Attended: Spring 2012
Melbourne, Australia
