CHARLIE DRAPE

Journalist

Résumé 

CHARLIE DRAPE
Journalist

cmdrape@gmail.com

Hardworking communicator with excellent team skills. Able to manage deadlines and extended projects. Self-motivated with a passion for listening and telling people’s stories.

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Experience

EXPERIENCE

Jackson beat reporter, Clarion Ledger
Jackson, Mississippi
(June 2023-present)

  • Lead reporter on Jackson city government beat, covering the Mayor’s office, Jackson City Council, city departments and other general assignment work. 
  • First to report on Sherik Marve’ Smith’s federal bribery case after learning of his indictment through confidential sources. The Clarion Ledger was the only outlet present in the courtroom. 
  • Coverage of that case revealed the wider Jackson bribery scandal, including the involvement of Jackson’s mayor, the Hinds County DA and a second city councilperson. 
  • Covered infrastructure and housing challenges in Jackson, ranging from the federal takeover of the city’s water system, the city’s trash crisis, pothole and road projects and tenant displacement. Also conducted investigations driven by public records requests and covered statewide news, including two Mississippi executions.
  • Contributed enterprise features blending analyses, public records work, narrative storytelling and in-depth profiles of local leaders, restaurants and content creators.

Reporter, Salisbury Post
Salisbury, North Carolina
(Oct. 2022-May 2023)

  • Assigned to state government beat covering the North Carolina General Assembly. 
  • Alsoassigned to county beat covering Rowan County, The Town of Rockwell, Granite Quarry and The Town of Faith. Wrote stories covering each town’s board of aldermen. 
  • Covered Rowan County Board of Commissioners meetings and other departments within the county, including animal services, transit, elections, parks and rec, and veteran’s services. 
  • Contributed breaking news, features, business stories and photographs.

Freelance Reporter, Queen City Nerve
Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Contributed stories covering sports, entertainment and music.
  • Wrote a story about a Kansas City Chiefs bar in Charlotte during the 2023 Super Bowl. 
  • Wrote a review celebrating the 20th anniversary of rap group Little Brother’s debut album “The Listening.” 

Intern Reporter at MLex Market Insight
Belgium, Brussels
(Jan 2022-May 2022)

  • Assigned to the Climate/Energy beat. Wrote stories covering climate and energy regulation in the European Union and how that affects businesses and markets across Europe.
  • Covered EU climate policy during the Russian War with Ukraine, specifically the European Green Deal, the EU’s efforts to be less reliant on Russian oil/gas and eliminate the use of fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions.
  • Covered debates and panels in the European Parliament and the European Commission.
  • Contributed stories for MLex’s other beats: antitrust, financial services and data privacy and security.

Reporter/Copy Editor at the Columbia Missourian
Columbia, Missouri
(Jan. 2021-Aug. 2022)

  • Assigned to the Public Life beat. Covered local government, including city council, city manager office, public health department and public works department. Developed
    sources across government.
  • Worked as Assistant City Editor assigning stories to reporters and copy-editing news stories of all types to make sure they are ready for print and online publication.
  • Worked as a team member on the social media outreach team scheduling and writing Twitter and Facebook posts.
  • Contributed school board and local business news to paper’s other beats.
  • Wrote news briefs, press releases and other general assignment work.

Education

University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
(August 2022)

Bachelor of Journalism, Print and Digital Reporting

Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, Kansas
(May 2018)

Associates in General Sciences
Associates of Arts in Liberal Studies