About

Contact: hickey@brianphickey.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
June 2008 – Today
Various Publications
Philadelphia, PA
Freelance Journalist, Researcher and Video Producer
After managing a $2 million state-senate campaign, I returned to the field of journalism penning columns for the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Metro, writing business-news stories for KeystoneEdge.com, doing news articles and book reviews for Philadelphia Weekly and Row Home Magazine and compiling and organizing research for various projects for the Echo Group political and public-relations agency. I primarily spent June through November 2008 freelance-producing Web videos for Philadelphia Business Today, the day’s news and pop-culture gossip for Philly.com which is the website of the Inquirer and Daily News. I have written articles about my recovery from a hit-and-run for Philadelphia Magazine and Men’s Health Magazine.

Feb. – May 2008
Dougherty for Senate
Philadelphia, PA
Campaign Manager
Managed Pennsylvania First District State Senate campaign of labor and civic leader John Dougherty in heated, three-way Democratic primary. Primary responsibilities included traveling with candidate to all public events, defining message and campaign platform, fielding media calls and conducting interviews with print and electronic press, approving direct-mail pieces, writing and issuing press releases, participating in strategy sessions and monitoring day-to-day progress of a campaign team of more than a dozen paid staffers and thousands of volunteers.

2003 – Feb. 2008
Philadelphia City Paper
Philadelphia, PA
Managing Editor
Oversaw a staff of three full-time staff writers, numerous freelance contributors and copy desk. Led editorial-staff meetings. Edited all news copy that appeared in the 100,000-circulation alternative weekly. Coordinated layout and photography with art and production departments. Fielded tips and story pitches. Assigned coverage areas to news staff. Oversaw and set departmental budget and ran internship program. Wrote a daily blog and weekly column ranging from politics and crime to sports, cover stories and other articles – several that earned statewide awards – that fall into my areas of expertise.
May-October 2004
Interim Editor-in-Chief
Directed the entire editorial process – most importantly, keeping morale and production up – during difficult transition period between editors-in-chief. Served as the editorial department’s direct liaison with the publisher during the annual budget-allocation process. Along with the newly appointed arts editor, oversaw the newspaper’s arts-and-entertainment coverage. Directed paper’s editorial-page content. Helped publisher screen and interview candidates for the vacant position. Led City Paper to Newspaper of the Year honors in Pennsylvania Newspaper Association competition including first-place honors in Newswriting Excellence, General and Departmental News and Editorial/Opinion Page Excellence.

2000 – 2003
Philadelphia Weekly
Philadelphia, PA
Staff Writer
Covered police and fire departments, city and state government, business and sports for the 125,000circulation weekly. Also covered local and federal trials for largest weekly in the market. Won numerous awards and was recognized as the second most distinguished writer in Pennsylvania for work done at both Philadelphia Weekly and the Philadelphia City Paper during 2003.

1996 – 2000
The Press of Atlantic City
Atlantic City, NJ
Staff Writer
Covered Atlantic City police and fire departments for the 90,000-circulation daily. Additional responsibilities included general-assignment reporting and, in first year at the paper, municipal-beat coverage. Consistently broke stories that were covered by Philadelphia newspapers and television stations.

1995 – 1996
Florence Morning News
Florence, SC
Reporter
Covered police and fire departments throughout a three-county area while writing a weekly “twenty something” column. Additional responsibilities included covering local industry, agriculture and business.

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS
Mensa International. 2005 to present. Member of international high-IQ society.

Guest Lecturer. 2004 to present. Invited to speak to journalism classes and clubs at University of Pennsylvania, University of Delaware, Arcadia University, Saint Joseph’s University and various city high schools.

Men’s Health and Details magazines. 1997 to 2002. Freelance writer, health and fitness.

Associated Press, Delaware bureau. 1994 to 1995. Stringer, election coverage.

AWARDS RECEIVED
2007-08, First Place, Column Writing; Second Place, Sports Story; Honorable Mention, Series. Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Keystone competition.

2006-07, Second place, Distinguished writing (weekly division) and First place, News Feature Story. Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Keystone competition.

2004-05, First place, sports writing and first place, spot news (editing and lead writing on staff compilation): Pennsylvania Society of Professional Journalists Keystone Awards. First place, deadline coverage (editing and lead writing on staff compilation): Philadelphia Society of Professional Journalists competition. Honorable mention, weekly newspaper-writing division: Philadelphia Press Association competition. Second place, Distinguished writing (weekly division) and First place, Special Issue, Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Keystone competition.

2003-04, Second place, sports-writing division, Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Keystone competition.

2002-03, Third place, sports-writing division, Pennsylvania Society of Professional Journalists competition. Honorable mention, general-news division, Pennsylvania Newspaper Association competition.

1999-00. Second place, news-writing division, Philadelphia Press Association Daily Newspaper competition. First place, community service, New Jersey Press Association competition.

1996. Award of Excellence, deadline writing, Thomson Newspapers.

EDUCATION
1991 – 1995 University of Delaware Newark, DE
Bachelor of Arts, Mass communication. Executive editor of school’s student-run, award-winning, twice-weekly newspaper – The Review – during senior year. On the newspaper staff in sophomore, junior and senior years.