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Dear Hiring Manager, With the utmost enthusiasm, I would like to express my interest in a position at your organization. My drive to succeed in videography, photography & journalism has taken me from an amateur photographer to Multimedia Editor at the nationally recognized college newspaper, The Ithacan. I believe that my passion for journalism, strong commitment to learning, and interest in the civic engagement make me an ideal candidate to join the staff at your organization. As a candidate, here’s what I could immediately bring to the table: An effective leader: In my role as Multimedia Editor at The Ithacan, I was responsible for story generation, video production and editing, while working with a staff of thirty. During my time as editor, we published over one hundred video packages, both as standalone pieces and contributing media for larger stories. When Ithaca College made national headlines due to a protest of the deteriorating racial climate of the campus, my role as both a videographer and editor became more important than ever, as we covered all aspects of the protests. This coverage included an extended interview with the former president of the college, which we as an editing staff decided to release in full to the community. Our videos were also linked to and shared by national news organiza- tions including the New York Times during this period, garnering thousands of views to our website. A disciplined journalist: I have always displayed a professional, ethical approach to reporting. While attending the Park School of Communications, I was a producer in several short documentary film projects. In this role, I had the opportunity to travel, interviewing people from many backgrounds and to share their stories. My work has spanned across topics, from the lively Jazz musicians of New Orleans, an aspiring late-night talk show host in Boston, to deeper issues such as a family torn apart by alcoholism and individuals coping with the end of their lives in hospice care. In each case, I have been able to handle working with subjects with dignity, respect and professionalism, while also capturing honest, insightful and captivating footage, which gave me further appreci- ation for the power of journalism. A passion for knowledge: Everything I have engaged in so far has all been driven by my keen interest in the world around me. Even as a summer camp videographer/photographer, I made sure to dedicate some part of my day to the lives of the children who were attending the camp, including many from low income families. In this role, I was able to learn about the difficulties of their lives, and help to mentor and inspire these young people. It is this passion that has driven every one of my career decisions thus far. My passion for stories and the human experience have guided the path into my career in journalism. I look forward to contributing my skills and experiences to your organization and hope to have the opportunity to speak with you further about how I can be an asset to your team. Sincerely, Robert T. Henry, Jr. ROBERT Henry, JR. Videography, Photography & Journalism (585) 362-0034 [email protected] 146 West Buffalo St., Warsaw, NY 14569
