​Colette Luke

Education

Medill School of Journalism - Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill.                                              June 2013
M.S. Broadcast Journalism
 

American University, Washington, D.C.                                                                                                    May 2006
B.A. Print Journalism; Minor in Justice

Experience

REUTERS TV, Washington, D.C.                                                                                                                October 2014 - Present

Producer

• Daily news producer who edits video, write scripts and narrates under tight deadlines for a breaking news app

• Shoots interviews with Reuters text reporters on breaking national news coverage; covered events including White House Correspondents Dinner (2014 and 2015) and the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that included top Republicans Jeb Bush, Donald Trump and Chris Christie

• Edits video to create a 1:30-2 minute package that include sound from text reporters and political figures  

• Monitors news conferences, presidential speeches and shoots video at the White House and Capitol Hill

• Understands what goes into creating a startup and contributed in building Reuters TV from the beginning

 

REUTERS AGENCY, Washington, D.C.                                                                                                     Sept 2013 - August 2014

Producer

• Package national and international stories into a minute to three minute videos under tight deadlines; script and narrate vidoes; accompany each piece with text summary; decide which stories should be on the website

• Video packages and rough cuts include FBI news conference about the Washington Navy Yard shooter; the White House Christmas tree arrival; stranded beached whales in Florida move away from shore; New York's outdoor workers braving the cold winter; President Barack Obama's push for healthcare reform; U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's news conference in the Middle East regarding Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations

• Act as field producer conducting interviews and directing camera shots. Field producing coverage includes the Kennedy Center Honors award show; two Washington rappers who filmed a music video in North Korea; the reopening of the Washington National zoo after government shutdown ends; rapper Chris Brown's court appearance in Washington; a protest by veterans at the WWII Memorial demanding politicians to end the government shutdown

 

MEDILL NEWS SERVICE, Washington, DC.                                                                                         March 2013 – June 2013
Reporter
• Covered stories on Capitol Hill and the White House includes Senate and House immigration bills; President Barack Obama’s rare press conference in late April; the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the immigration bill; a personal recount by a Boston Marathon runner after the bombings at the race
• Constantly blogged and twitted stories and photos, shot and edited video packages that are 1:30 to 3 minutes long and created audio clips and in-depth enterprise investigative pieces



NORTHWESTERN NEWS NETWORK, Chicago, Il.                                                                              January - March 2013

Producer

• Produced seven, fifteen and thirty minute shows for Friday newscast edition; developed content for shows, called supers, decided which stories to use for rundown, timed segments, floor produced, loaded video

• Hosted and produced a thirty minute show that included Over The Shoulder Graphics (OTS) and SOTs from previous shows

• Wrote scripts, headlines, teases, recorded voiceovers, exported file video from CNN Newsource, cut raw footage and sound bites

 

MEDILL NEWS SERVICE, Chicago, Il.                                                                                                  Sept 2012 – March 2013

Reporter
• Followed and reported on the 4th Congressional District race in Chicago and covered education and immigration stories including Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Wellness initiative in schools and extensive coverage on the undocumented immigrant community
• Shot and edited video packages ranging from 1:30 to 5 minute pieces, wrote in-depth articles; edited and created audio stories; efficiently used CMS; did stand-ups for video packages

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PATCH, University Park, MD. & Arlington, VA.                                                                               Aug 2010 – April 2012
Freelancer
• Reported on local crime and education stories
• Wrote a piece about the economic disparity in Arlington, VA., and how the city has one of the highest salary per job ratio but has over thiry percent of its students on free and reduced lunches. The story was picked up by the Huffington Post.

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WASHINGTON LAWYERS’ COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, Washington, D.C.                       June 2008 – Sept 2010
Legal assistant and media coordinator
• Primary point of contact for media related matters, expanded press contact list by sourcing new reporters. Managed incoming press requests, set up media interviews and compiled press clips. Responsible for writing press releases and distributing press material. Proofread and fact-checked legal motions and complaints filed in DC and Virginia district courts.
• Served as direct liaison to attorneys and more than fifty potential clients. Interviewed complainants, conducted legal analysis of discrimination complaints, reviewed related documents and assisted attorneys in selecting clients.

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THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER, Washington, D.C.                                                                         Sept 2005 - April 2006
General Assignment Reporter Intern
• Wrote more than fifteen feature and hard news articles on crime and education in DC. Stories included the disappearance and death of Virginia Commonwealth University student Taylor Behl, which received national coverage, and former American University president’s indictment for embezzlement.