Career Trajectory: From Newsprint to Narrative Leadership
- Early Career (2005-2012): Cut her teeth as a features writer at the Rocky Mountain News, covering everything from tornado aftermaths to emerging food trends
- Communications Leadership (2012-2022): Directed internal communications for Denver Public Schools' 15,000+ employees during crises including teacher strikes and pandemic response
- Freelance Renaissance (2022-present): Returned to journalism with bylines in Epicurious, Eater Chicago, and regional publications focusing on cultural preservation through food and arts
Signature Works: Three Articles Defining Her Approach
- The historic Virginia Samford Theatre at Caldwell Park is back in action This 2024 deep dive into Birmingham's cultural revival demonstrates Freeman's knack for tying architectural preservation to community identity. Through interviews with theater staff, local historians, and performing artists, she reveals how $2.3M in renovations sparked a 40% increase in youth programming attendance. The piece's impact led to three new corporate sponsorships for the theater within six weeks of publication.
- Journalism Students to Play Integral Role in Saving Community Newspaper Freeman's 2021 investigation into media desert solutions showcases her commitment to grassroots journalism. By profiling Grady College's partnership with the Monticello News, she highlights innovative models for sustaining local news. The article's documentation of 78% subscription growth post-partnership has been cited in FCC rural media initiatives.
- Snapshots from paradise: Culinary adventures in Ireland This 2023 multimedia series for SaucedMarket blends travelogue with anthropological food studies. Freeman's documentation of butter-churning traditions in County Cork and Dublin's vegan pub scene demonstrates her ability to make culinary history accessible to modern audiences. The series drove a 22% increase in the outlet's newsletter subscriptions.
Pitch Recommendations: Aligning With Freeman's Editorial Vision
1. Community-Driven Food Systems
Freeman consistently prioritizes stories about local food networks over celebrity chef profiles. Her 2024 piece on Chicago's urban mushroom farms exemplifies this focus. Pitches should highlight innovations in sustainable agriculture or cultural preservation through cuisine, particularly projects involving youth education or historic preservation ties.
2. Arts as Economic Catalysts
With 18 published pieces on creative placemaking since 2023, Freeman seeks stories demonstrating how arts initiatives drive community development. Successful pitches will include hard metrics - a theater's impact on local business revenue, or mural programs reducing vandalism rates. Avoid generic "feel-good" arts stories without measurable outcomes.
3. Next-Gen Journalism Models
Building on her 2021 university partnership investigation, Freeman remains keen on innovations sustaining local news. Pitch case studies of successful reporter-retention programs or metrics-driven audience engagement strategies. She particularly seeks examples bridging generational gaps in news consumption habits.
Awards and Industry Recognition
"Freeman's pandemic-era communications work redefined crisis messaging in public education" - National School Public Relations Association
- 2024 James Beard Media Award Nominee (Food Reporting) for her Eater Chicago series on immigrant-owned supper clubs
- 2023 Regional Emmy® as writer/producer for Denver's COVID Classroom documentary
- 2022 Clarion Award for Best Internal Communications Program during the Denver teacher strike negotiations
