Tim's Cover Letter

You won’t find anyone as passionate about sports writing as me.

You’ll find clips that will wow you. And you may find a few students who work just as hard I do. But you won’t find anyone with as much enthusiasm as I have.

I live for this.

I live to break news. I live to paint features. I live to inject passion into my columns. And I live to be the best.

I’m an award-winning sports editor for the state’s top college newspaper in our division. We recently dominated the Michigan Press Association competition, winning 13 awards, including first place for general excellence and overall newspaper design. I won first place for the top sports column, as well as third place for sports news and sports photo.

My mentor, Bob Becker, taught me everything I know about sports writing. Becker is a former 29-year sports editor at the Grand Rapids Press and is in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. He’s taken me under his wing and trained as a writer and editor over the last two years, and now I’m ready to excel.

I’m hungry to grow as a journalist, and I’ve thrived in every opportunity I’ve been given. Now I’m ready to take the next step with your newspaper.

Thank you for your time,

Tim Devaney (616-914-2032)

Tim's Resume

EXPERIENCE:

Herald (Cornerstone University) May 2007 to Present
Sports Editor
Circulation: 2,000

• Won three Michigan Press Association awards for best “Sports Column,” “Sports News” and “Sports Photo.”
• Manages several sports writers.
• Innovative page design skills.
• Workhorse leader who takes responsibility for many important articles.
• Effective at covering a beat by knowing everyone and everything that happens on campus.
• Quality interview experience: Joe Dumars, Rasheed Wallace, Mike Huckabee, Katie Feenstra, Miss Maine.

Holland Sentinel Fall 2008 Intern Sports Reporter
Circulation: 20,705

• Covered a variety of sports.
• Wrote round-ups, features and game stories.

Daily News Fall 2008
Freelance Writer
Circulation: 10,000

• Covered high school football, and learned to work under deadline pressure.
• Improved writing and interviewing skills.

Bangor Daily News June 2008 to August 2008 Intern Reporter
Circulation: 61,000

• Covered a variety of stories (sports, business, entertainment, education, city/state, feature, etc).
• Wrote four stories per week on average.

Spotlight Magazine November 2007 to October 2008
Features Writer
Circulation: 5,000

• Wrote a column for one year, as well as consistent feature stories.
• Helped develop and maintain the Web site and social marketing effort.
• Good at discovering unknown talent and incredible stories.

St. John Valley Times Summer of 2007
Intern Reporter
Circulation: 6,200

• Gained experience in writing, photography and interviewing.

EDUCATION:

Cornerstone University Fall 2006 to Present
Bachelor of Arts
Major: Journalism
Minor: Business Sports Management

Honors: Dean’s List, Dean’s Scholarship and Junior Achievement Volunteer.

Activities: Broadcasting, newspaper reporter, media relations director (Midnight Madness), intramural basketball and football.