Portfolio for Joel Spears
Award-winning Writer and Content Specialist
Welcome to my world of storytelling! Here you’ll find a few examples of my work in media relations, marketing, and feature writing. This is why you came, and I’m glad you did!
Experience Highlights
- Media & PR: Wrote press releases, secured regional and national press coverage, and developed strong relationships with local media outlets.
- Storytelling & Content Creation: Produced feature stories, blogs, marketing copy, event recaps, and magazine features (85,000+ readers). Developed a student writing initiative resulting in technology grants for a participating school. Honored with multiple awards for feature writing and editorial storytelling.
- Social Media Management: Increased engagement and reach through content creation and strategy in both higher education and news publishing, this included boosting one publication’s following 400% in 18 months through organic growth and campaigns.
- Event Promotion: Created publicity content, press kits, and promotional materials for events featuring nationally recognized entertainers.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnered with marketing, design, leadership, and editorial to align messaging and deliver communications strategies .
Awards and Honors
- 2015 Public Service Proclamation, TN House of Representatives, for promotion of inclusion and diversity in local news
- 2015 AHERN Publisher’s Award (African American Health, Education, Religion, & News, Inc.)
- 2nd Place, Best Community Lifestyles, 2015 TN Press Association (TPA) State Press Awards, Nashville
- 1st Place, Best Special Section – 2012 TPA Advertising Ideas Contest (Advertising)
- 1st Place, Best Headline Writing – 2012 TPA State Press Awards
- 1st Place, Best Community Lifestyles and 2nd Place, Public Service – 2011 TPA State Press Awards
- 1st Place, Best Feature Package – 2009 Society of Professional Journalists Press Awards
- 1st Place, Best Personal Column and Best Special Section, 2005 TPA State Press Awards
- 1st Place, Best Community Lifestyles and Best Special Section, 2004 TPA State Press Awards
Joel Spears 