elizabethcobb1201@gmail.com
Let’s work together.
Please email to discuss. I’d be happy to offer references, additional clips, story ideas, or general merriment.
(Also please see the “Contact me” page in menu above….)
NOTE: I can also be found via searching “Elizabeth Cobb Durel.”
Welcome.
I am an award-winning creative thinker, engaging storyteller, nimble communicator, effective leader, and cheery colleague with a proven track record of ideation, leadership, collaboration, execution, and success. My skill set is an effective and rare blend of marketing savvy, analytical strategizing, and editorial concepting. I have a unique point of view and the ability to create fresh, innovative, and strategic ideas on demand. I am confident in pitching well thought-out ideas, pivot as needed, and always deliver.
Professional Summary
- Exceptional background in reporting, editing, and writing
- Proven ability to innovate ideas, gather buy-in across disparate groups, then lead to execution
- Keen ability to manage and execute across complex project teams while satisfying stakeholders
- Documented expertise in creating content in myriad voices across a wide content base
- Adept content creator while using creative and strategic thinking to meet tactical and analytical goals
- Rare creative communications hybrid with deep and successful background in both marketing and journalism
Education
University of Georgia, Athens, GA. BA, Journalism with minor in English and History, 1994
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York, NY. MS, Journalism, 2002
Georgia State University, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology I and II, 2016-2017
StoryCenter, Creative Storytelling Workshop w/ WeVideo Component, 2019
IDEOU, Foundations in Creative Leadership Certificate, Spring 2020
Blue Medallion, certificate program in social justice education, Emory, Fall 2020
CURRENT
Health Communications Specialist/Speechwriter
Office of the Director
Division of HIV Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Chenega Professional & Technical Services
03/2021 – current
Leads Internal Communications, including weekly newsletter to all staff, as well as general messaging, fact sheets, and web materials. Co-leads Internal Intranet Redesign Project with technical lead. Leads project to strategize, create, and revamp all internal communication methods based on analytics and best practices. Writes for Division director and senior leadership, including letters to staff, talking points, speeches, scripts, and thank you notes. Advise on communication strategy development and implementation. Reviews materials and abstracts to ensure plain language. Collaborates across teams, divisions, and branches to create, enhance, and modify communication tools and strategy. Works with consulting company to vet and clear editorial products. Attends multiple meetings to recap for leadership and also for wide distribution.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Assistant Director, Editorial Content/Editor-in-chief, EmoryWire
Advancement Communications, Alumni & Constituent Engagement, Emory University
08/2017 – 12/2020
Served as Editor-in-Chief of EmoryWire – Managed and directed complete overhaul and design of EmoryWire monthly email (delivered to more than 175,000 Emory constituents per month) with the accomplished goal to become an all-encompassing news tool. In addition, planned with goal of enhancing tone for digital communication specific to the needs of individual reader personas. Directed strategies to increase unique readership, growing more than 350%. Innovated storytelling methods. Honed voice unique to any other Emory publishing vehicle. Wrote more than 85% of top performing stories. Led creation and management of content calendar to achieve strategic goals. Created and drove strategic story series to promote prominent alumni, donors, and university programs. Recruited, managed, and mentored freelance writers. Drove test and analysis of best practices. • Directed conception, development, editing/copyediting of editorial products while ensuring appropriate tone, messaging, and length, including but not limited to speeches for leadership, alumni, and award winners; leadership briefings; creative briefs, invite copy; impact reports; video scripts; long form articles; short form articles; web copy; and tweets • Collaborated across teams, departments, and university on projects advising colleagues on messaging content, storytelling, and creative messaging execution • Directed over-arching editorial project teams to create tone, then writing leadership briefings, profiles, webpages and all ancillary materials, and finally working with designer to create page and with social to promote • Led video production processes: ideation, gathering buy-in on all levels, RFP process, budgets, script writing, interviewing, overseeing editing process, guiding to final product. • Led teams of in-house and freelance writers, designers, photographers, and interns.
JOURNALISM
Reporter
AJC, People, Atlanta, Peach, PINK, Atlanta Parent — Atlanta
2005 – 2008
AJC: Pitched, reported, and wrote entertainment and general interest stories, reviews and breaking news. Assisted art department with ideation, copy editors with headlines. Others: Freelanced on an individual article basis as well as in several short contracts. Reported and wrote copy of all lengths and styles. Assigned and managed freelancers. Edited and copyedited. Oversaw full production process. Planned and maintained editorial calendars. Worked with and managed art and marketing.
Reporter
InTouch Weekly, Bauer Media — New York
2003 – 2004
Developed, reported, edited, and wrote celebrity news articles, captions, and headlines as well as crime news articles. Developed and managed NYC nightlife beat, including system design, freelance assignment and management, contact maintenance and information distribution. Covered events.
Reporter
People Magazine, TIME Inc. — New York
2002 – 2003
Designed, created, and developed NYC Nightlife beat. Provided additional reporting to feature stories. Covered and gathered anecdotes at one-time events (movie premieres, screenings, parties, etc…). Contributed to People.com.
WEB-BASED
Membership Manager
Blue Barn Interactive — New York
2000 – 2001
Wrote, designed, and implemented effective internet strategies for client’s editorial and marketing goals. Managed and trained moderators. Analyzed and reported traffic. Clients included Martha Stewart Living, A&E and History Channel.
MARKETING
Marketing and Promotions Manager
1994 – 2000
BRIDE’S (Conde Nast), This Old House Magazine (TIME, Inc.), Better Homes and Gardens and BH&G Family Money (Meredith Corporation), Art & Antiques Magazine (Billian Publishing) — New York
Wrote and executed merchandising plans for advertising clients. Executed events. Served as on and off stage host. Traveled with talent. Managed presence at trade shows. Provided sales and research analysis. Wrote and executed marketing and promotion plans for launch of ancillary magazine, BH&G Family Money.
FUNDRAISING AND DEVELOPMENT
Community/City Educational Foundations
2010 – 2017
Oakhurst Elementary Auction – Chair
Raised $61,000 in net funds, surpassing target by 32%, while meeting goal of ensuring greater inclusivity utilizing positive fundraising methods.
Decatur Presbyterian Children’s Community – Board Member Created, promoted, and ran fundraising ventures.
Awards
Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Awards
2020
Holiday Hand Delivery – Marketing/Branding Video – Bronze
The Dinner Table – Online Innovation/Experimentation – Bronze
2019
2018 Emory Medal Campaign – Special Merit Award
Georgia State University
2017
Top Anatomy & Physiology Student (2X)
Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
Vice President’s Award of Excellence (for innovation and ethics)
What else?
- Founding chair of Emory’s Advancing Women Employee Resource Group
- Expert in AP Style
- Experienced in Design Thinking Process
- Skilled in journalistic and web research techniques
- Proficient in Content Manager System, Copyediting, Microsoft Office, General Adobe Suite, WeVideo, Cascade, Blogspot
- From 2008-2010, I blogged about being an expat in Norway, “Striped Socks and Skinny Jeans” eventually growing audience to 10-20,000 individual views per post, especially May the Fourth Be with You, Go Car Go, Paris in Pictures, and The Girls.
- Graduate of docent program at The High
- Completed series of butchering classes
- Consistently wins at Scrabble and Uno
- Speak and understand rudimentary Norwegian
Elizabeth Cobb Durel 