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I
broke into journalism in fifth grade, when I became a reporter for
my elementary school newspaper, The Naquag Times. My beat: profiling teachers and reviewing movies,
including the first release of Star Wars, a long, long time ago.
I
have since been a sports, news, features, general assignment and foreign reporter, and am
now an outdoor adventure and travel writer. Below, you'll find descriptions of my
journalism jobs.
Freelance Writer and Photographer
Since
1998, when I returned from an 18-month, around-the-world trip, I've been writing travel and outdoor adventure stories for newspapers, magazines and
websites. Click on the following publications to see samples of my writing, and go
to the Books section to read stories that have appeared in travel
anthologies.
Newspapers
Magazines and journals
Websites
Editor and Journalist ~ Weekend Guide and Middlesex News
(Framingham, MA)
As reporter: Each week, for four years, I wrote an in-depth cover story
for the Weekend Guide (460,000 readers), on everything from skydiving,
hang-gliding and swimming with sharks to stargazing, ballroom dancing and
soaking in spas (all based on first-hand experience). I also reviewed Boston-area museum exhibits, as well as
art shows throughout central and eastern Massachusetts. As editor: I managed 11 staff and freelance
writers,
assigned stories and oversaw the budget, plus edited articles and laid out the
Weekend Guide using QuarkXPress, Adobe Photoshop and PageMaker. I also led a company-wide pagination project by redesigning and paginating the
Weekend Guide.
As
project leader and foreign correspondent:
At the height of Rwanda's civil war in 1994, I created and managed
"Global Outreach," a newspaper-sponsored relief project that
provided Rwandan refugees with $10,000 worth of medicines and one ton of
clothing, all donated by readers in Eastern Massachusetts. After writing
stories promoting this relief effort and transporting the donations to
Rwanda, I traveled to Central Africa to report on and photograph the
distribution of these supplies in refugee camps, orphanages and hospitals in
Rwanda and Eastern Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). Award:
Received New England Press Association (NEPA) award for Human Interest
Feature Story in Rwandan refugee series, 1994.
General Assignment Reporter ~
Barnet Borough and Hendon Times
(UK)
From 1992 to 1993, I wrote news, feature and travel stories, as well as restaurant and film
reviews, for the Barnet Borough Times and Hendon Times, covering Northwest London.
I was sent on assignment to Boulogne, Hardelot, Le Touquet and Reims, France,
to report on Northern France as a travel destination.
Editorial Assistant ~ The
Boston Globe
(Boston, MA)
I wrote articles for the Living/Arts section, including a feature on Carly
Simon based on an in-person interview (a big deal for a mere college student); proofread the daily and Sunday Living/Arts
sections; conducted research for reporters; fielded phone queries for editors
and reporters in the Living/Arts and newsroom departments; scheduled interviews and
photo assignments for columnist Marian Christy; and recorded news tips. Also,
during my one-and-a-half years at the Globe, I transcribed stories for the
National/Foreign department, and music interviews for writers in the
Living/Arts department.
Town Reporter ~ Greenfield
Recorder
(Greenfield, MA)
Wendell, a town tucked away in the Berkshire Mountains, wanted to secede
from the state of Massachusetts in 1990, when I covered Wendell town politics,
schools and issues for the Greenfield Recorder.
Sports Reporter ~
Clinton Item
(Clinton, MA)
My first paid newspaper job,
which netted me $8 (cash) per story. I covered Wachusett Regional High
School's field hockey, soccer,
softball, baseball and basketball teams for the Clinton Item from 1984 to
1986. Award: Received the Distinguished Sports Reporting
Award for my soccer coverage.
Author's note: Kari also played on
Wachusett's field hockey,
softball and basketball teams. As a left wing for the field hockey team, she set a school record for scoring the most goals in one season (25), was
named MVP, and received numerous all-star awards. It was from these experiences
that she learned the art of writing about herself in a story.
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(click photo for larger view)
Skydiving for a
Scoop
The writer flings herself
out of an airplane at 13,000 feet over Northampton, Mass., for a story on
adrenaline sports—and eyelid vibration.
(click for larger
image)
Kissing a
Cod
After a deep conversation
on Australia's Great Barrier Reef,
the writer's interview with a giant codfish ends on friendly terms.
(click for larger image)
Going Doooown
The author (front) and her
kayak guide plunge over an 18-foot waterfall outside Rotorua, on New
Zealand's North Island.
(click for larger image)
Zorbing
The
writer and
several gallons of water tumble down a hill in New Zealand
inside a 10-foot-wide rubber ball.
Shadow
Dancing...
on a beach (in front of an old shipwreck) on
Australia's Fraser Island.
A
Moment of Repose
Taking a break from all the excitement, while
hiking
through the tea plantations in southern India.
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