Maryellen Tighe

Writing Experience

Freelance writer: June 2018 –  present

Debtwire: New York City, N.Y.

Assistant Editor: August 2016 – June 2018

• Help manage a desk of six reporters and edit at least two weekly publications.
  
• Lead creation of a publication style guide.
• Coordinate and post weekly podcasts and monthly webinars.
• Current beats: Puerto Rico and its entities, municipal utilities, tobacco.
• Prior beats include: Michigan general obligation debt including the Detroit bankruptcy, Illinois general obligation debt, development districts, tax allocation bonds, transportation, public-private partnerships.

Senior Reporter:  January 2013 – August 2016

• Assist in new reporter and intern training regarding software and reporting standards.

Reporter:  June 2012 – January 2013

• Write daily reports on distressed municipal debt
• Coordinate a team of three reporters and one analyst on Puerto Rico debt coverage including research reports, breaking news and longer form enterprise pieces
• Other beats include water, wastewater and power utilities, ports, toll roads, public-private partnerships and other municipal infrastructure.
• Previous responsibilities include: leading reporting on Detroit bankruptcy coverage including on-the-ground coverage of some court proceedings and enterprise pieces, tax allocation bonds, general obligation debt in Georgia and Illinois and development districts.

Argus Media Inc.: Houston, Texas Bureau

Reporter: January 2012 – June 2012

• Assess the value of gasoline and distillates in the Midwest and Chicago Markets
• Write daily reports explaining price changes and market movements
• Breaking news reporting for ethanol and biodiesel markets
• Contribute to a weekly report of fuel shipments from Latin and South America

Bloomberg L.P.: New York City, N.Y. Bureau

Reporting Intern: September 2011 – December 2011

• General assignment reporting for the insurance and financial desks
• General assignment reporting for the Bloomberg Government website

The Buffalo News: Circulation 165,500 weekday, 248,000 Sunday. Buffalo, N.Y.

Financial Reporting Intern: June 2011 – September 2011

• General assignment reporting for the Business Desk
• Pitched several front page articles including a multi-section Sunday package

Midland Daily News: Circulation 16,500 weekday, 18,000 Sunday. Midland, Mich.

Stringer: December 2010 – June 2011

• Write and pitch general assignment articles
• Beats: Jerome Township, Homer Township, Bullock Creek School Board

Dow Corning: Midland, Mich.

Corporate Communications Contractor: April – May 2011

• Managed company intranet, including writing and editing articles

 Corporate Communications Intern: July 2010 – January 2011

• Wrote, edited and posted to company intranet
• Recorded and edited video for internal and external promotions
• Communicated with stakeholders through social media

Central Michigan Life: Circulation 13,000. Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Metro Editor: August – December 2010

• Managed a desk of 15 to 20 reporters, publishing three times a week
• Assigned and edited stories from beats including city and county commissions, cops, courts and business
• Posted articles to the web with links and photos

Senior Reporter: January – May 2010

• Generated and wrote at least one story per week on each beat
• Beats: business, Union Township, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe

Staff Reporter: March 2008 – December 2009; January 2010 – May 2011

• Generate story ideas and write general assignment articles
• Beats: business, student organizations, Mid Michigan Community College

Marx, Layne & Associates: Farmington Hills, Mich.

Public Relations Intern: May – July 2010

• Wrote press releases, media alerts, query letters, media lists, buck slips and fact sheets
• Pitched to media using e-mail and phone calls
• Helped organize and facilitate media coverage opportunities

Honors

Mergermarket Emerging Leaders Programme (2014)

Society of American Business Editors and Writers:

• Nominated: “Larry Birger Young Business Journalist Award” (2014, 2017)

Society of American Business Editors and Writers:

• Nominated: general reporting (2013)

Michigan Press Association:

• Third: Multimedia Reporting, “Bringing God to the fight” (2009)
• Third: Investigative Reporting, “Tailgate series” (2009)

Society of Professional Journalists:

• First: General News Reporting, “Tailgate series” (2009)

Education

Central Michigan University: Mount Pleasant, Mich.

August 2007 – August 2011

• GPA 3.59
• Bachelor of Applied Arts; Majors: Integrative Public Relations and Spanish
• Centralis Scholar Scholarship recipient
• Graduate of Honors Program
• International Service Learning, Summer 2008, Oaxaca, Mexico: worked in orphanages with children in child growth and development activities
• Deans List: Fall 2007 – Summer 2008; Summer 2009 – Summer 2011

La Universidad de San Francisco de Quito: Quito Ecuador

May 2009 – August 2009

• Study abroad and travel experience
• Classes in Andean anthropology and public relations

Memberships

New York Financial Writers Association: Aug. 2013 – June 2018

• Board member: 2014 – 2018
• President: 2017

Society of Professional Journalists: Feb. 2012 – present

Society of American Business Editors and Writers: Feb. 2012 – June 2018