Taylor Mirfendereski is a multimedia
journalist from Columbus, OH with a
passion for storytelling, technology, and
diversity.
Taylor sees life in the context
of a story and finds herself
viewing the world through the lens of a
camera. As one of a select group of
campus correspondents for CNN during
the 2008-2009 school year, she produced
a series of news packages to air on
CNN.com. Through this experience,
she gained knowledge and expertise in pitching focused story ideas, writing
conversational scripts, capturing visually appealing b-roll, and editing packages with
continuity.
In addition to her work with CNN, Taylor has held several local and national internships.
In 2008, she was a communication's intern for Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. Her
primary responsibilities included conducting research for the governor's speeches and
preparing local, state and national news briefings for the governor and his staff. The most
significant portion of her first quarter on the job was spent conducting research for the governor's 2008 State of the State Address.
During the summer of 2009, Taylor interned with Central Ohio's NBC affiliate
WCMH-TV. Most recently, in the Fall of 2009, she held internships with NBC's TODAY
Show and NBC Weekend Nightly News with Lester Holt.
While Taylor's internships have offered her hands-on opportunities, some of
her most valuable experience has stemmed from her independent reporting. She has
produced several stories on Iran, including an article about the treatment of Iranian homosexuals and transsexuals, and several Q&A stories about Iran's 2009 presidential
election fallout. She also produced a story about the homeless in Columbus, OH, in which
she sought out five homeless individuals and profiled their living conditions.
Beyond her passion for storytelling and reporting, Taylor is intrigued by
technology. She's been producing and editing video for eight years and is proficient in
both linear and nonlinear editing systems, including Final Cut Pro, Avid, and Grass Valley
Aurora Edit. In 2008, she began work as a video editor for Best Light Video in
Columbus, OH. She produced 30-second commercials for businesses in the area. Her
editing on a project for the North Market in Columbus, OH helped to win the company an
Ohio Interactive Award.
Taylor is skilled in video camera operation, still photogaphy, computer assisted reporting,
and web design (using XHTML and CSS). Her software proficiency includes, but is not
limited to: iNews, ENPS, Photoshop, and Dreamweaver.
Her love for journalism began at an early age. While in the third grade, she read an article
in Time for Kids magazine about the possibility of flying cars. Taylor was
subsequently introduced to the
TFK kid reporter contest. She produced an article
about the March of Dimes and was selected as a national finalist.
Throughout high school, Taylor wrote for her high school newsmagazine and helped to
create a broadcast program for the school. In 2006, she produced and edited Tobacco
Road to Drug Detour, a 40-minute documentary about the dangers of substance abuse.
The documentary was shown school-wide during National Red Ribbon Week and was
later adopted by the Delaware County Municipal Court for use in their Repeat Offenders
program.
Taylor is now a junior attending Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism
in the Honors Tutorial College. She is vice president of OU's Society of Professional
Journalists chapter and the president of the Radio-Television Digital News Association
campus chapter. She is also an active member of Students for Global Media and Diversity
and the Asian American Journalist's Association. Taylor is the co-coordinator of a
new AAJA student broadcast organization called the Asian American Student Broadcast Journalists.
When not in school or reporting in the field, Taylor enjoys traveling, writing, and
spending time with family, friends, and pets. She travels annually to Iran and has visited
several other locations in the Middle East and Europe.
