Hello! My name is Diane. I’m a graduate of Michigan State University and have a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois Springfield. I currently work as web content manager for a nonprofit member association in Arlington, VA.
MSU’s journalism school proved invaluable in shaping my skills and interests. As a freshman, I helped create an independent, student-run web site: SpartanEdge.com. For two semesters, I served as a the Assistant Bureau Chief and correspondent for Capital News Service, an MSU wire service for statehouse news. I honed my skills in local government reporting during my internship at the Mackinac Island Town Crier. During my senior year at MSU, I pursued opportunities that would teach me how organizations represent themselves in the media. I interned in communications with the Michigan State Medical Society and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
After college, I was accepted to the Public Affairs Reporting program at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Program is designed to prepare young journalists for a career in statehouse reporting, with a focus on Illinois government. I interned for six months at the Illinois Times, a local alternative newsweekly. While I enjoyed the highly-specialized kind of journalism I did in Illinois, I decided the communications career path was a better fit for me.
Now, I work as web content manager at a nonprofit member association for pharmaceutical scientists. I am responsible for the editorial content on the association’s website, as well as the weekly posts on our blog. I manage submission of content updates by staff via our content management system, Ektron, to ensure quality, clarity, and consistency within our website. I provide assistance with IT projects and act as project manager to make sure staff requests are succinct, achievable, and completed in a timely manner. I also serve in a teaching capacity to keep staff informed of changing content standards and tools, such as Google Analytics, to help create the best content for their pages.
Previously, I worked for four years as communications associate and web manager at the National Association of Conservation Districts.
Diane Ivey 