HOLIDAY DMITRI KUMAR
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PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE

CONSULTANT, Freedom House, New York, NY
2011 - Present
- Proofread, edit and
analyze freedom of print, broadcast and internet-based media in various Pacific Island and Asian countries based on their legal, political and economic practices for the annual Freedom of the Press survey; index media freedom and write country reports based on data analysis
- Provided country-specific research and analysis for the 2012 Freedom in the World survey

RESEARCHER, Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED), Pristina, Kosovo
2010
- Worked on media issues at Kosovo's leading public policy institute, reporting to the Executive Director
- Provided analysis of the Serbian-language broadcast media landscape in Kosovo by employing interview
methodology along with compiling data and reports from various international organizations
- Prepared a policy paper with recommendations for sustainable development of minority media in Kosovo

FREELANCE WRITER and RESEARCHER, New York, NY
2006 - 2010
- Wrote, fact-checked and proofread articles on a regular basis for national consumer magazines including Alpha Media (Maxim), Niche Media (Gotham and Capitol File), Condé Nast (Brides) and Travel + Leisure

RESEARCH EDITOR, Radar Magazine, New York, NY
2006 - 2008
- Researched queries from reporters and editors for both online and print versions of a pop culture magazine, including reviewing hundreds of documents from police reports to court papers to interview transcripts
- Took initiative to pitch and produce stories including personal interviews with NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, actor Masi Oka, activist Adam Kokesh and author Christopher Hitchens

CULTURE REPORTER, Fountain Magazine, Taipei, Taiwan
2006
- Wrote about Taipei's cultural arts scene for an English-language publication aimed to help foreigners better understand Taiwan; interviewed industry experts; proofread copy and coordinated production

SENIOR MANAGER FOR MEDIA RELATIONS, The Cato Institute, Washington, DC
2005 - 2006
- Edited and placed policy op-eds in major newspapers; drafted news releases and press statements; developed media strategies on issues including foreign policy, national security, trade and immigration
- Pitched stories to national and international media outlets; created and updated media lists; managed and provided guidance to a media team; oversaw quality of editorial content on website

RESEARCH DIRECTOR for "THE TONY SNOW SHOW," Fox News Channel, Washington, DC
2003 - 2005
- Conducted original research for radio host Tony Snow; spearheaded booking, call-screening and show scheduling; prepared daily compendium of topical issues, analyzed articles and summarized reports
- Pitched story and interview ideas for segments; created and managed editorial content for show website
- Previously worked as an intern on "Weekend Live with Tony Show" before being hired as Research Director

NEWSPAPER COLUMNIST, The Wicker Park Booster (Sun-Times Media), Chicago, IL
2001 - 2002
- Interviewed Chicago trendsetters from the Wicker Park neighborhood for a front-page, biweekly column
- Consistently produced clean copy on deadline; developed strong interviewing skills; built rapport with sources

SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR, Velocity Magazine, Chicago, IL
2000 - 2001
- Recruited and trained new writers; handled editing and assigning of articles; wrote articles; managed press contacts; developed corporate collateral in collaboration with marketing team; built magazine's first style guide to ensure consistent content and instituted new deadline system to improve flow of copy
- Increased magazine recognition from local publication to national magazine (circ. 100,000)



EDUCATION

THE NEW SCHOOL, Graduate Program in International Affairs, New York, NY
M.S. in International Affairs, December 2010
Area of Concentration: Conflict and Security
Overall GPA: 3.9/4.0

NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY, Taipei, Taiwan
Center for Chinese Language and Culture, Mandarin Training Center, 2006

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, Division of the Social Sciences, Chicago, IL
M.A. in Social Science, August 2003
M.A. thesis: "Frontier Justice: Cowboy Ethics and the Bush Doctrine of Preemption"
Area of Concentration: Political Sociology


NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, Medill School of Journalism, Evanston, IL
B.S. in Journalism, Minor in German, June 1999

LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS UNIVERSITÄT, Munich, Germany
Wayne State University's Study Abroad Program, 1997 - 1998


HONORS

- 2003 Economic Reporting Fellow, The National Journalism Center
- 2003 Ambassador Program Fellow, The Formosa Foundation
- 2002 - 2003 University of Chicago MAPSS Fellow, The University of Chicago



ORGANIZATIONS

- Volunteer English Language Tutor, The International Center in New York
- Member, Young Professionals Group, Formosan Association for Public Affairs

- Member, Asian American Journalists Association



ADDITIONAL
CREDENTIALS

- Conversational German, Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese
- Working knowledge of the production processes for print and electronic media
- Fundamental understanding of still and video photography, audio editing, layout and design