Tracy Rasmussen

Pottstown, PA 19465

Email: TGR101@comcast.net

QUALIFICATIONS

Award winning journalist, author, essayist, columnist, public speaker.

EDUCATION

1976-80           BA, Simmons College, Boston, MA

HIGHLIGHTED AWARDS

More than two dozen state, regional, and national writing awards, including:

Distinguished Writing, 2001, second place, Pennsylvania Press Association;

Writer of the Year, honorable mention, New York Press Association, 1986; first

place awards in feature writing, 1981 from the New England Press Association,

and 1992 through 1997 from the International Free Paper Association; first place

in special section, 2001, Pennsylvania Press Association

EMPLOYMENT

2003-present   Freelance journalist/writer

Co-author of The Verbal Behavior Approach: Teaching Children with Autism and Related Disorders (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, May 2007), currently in its fourth printing. Write a variety of stories for national publications as well as daily newspapers. Topics include celebrity interviews, medical reporting, education/parenting stories, and general lifestyle stories.

2000-2003       Writer, The Reading Eagle, Reading, PA

Responsible for writing a wide variety of features that were either assigned or

self-generated. Topics included entertainment, music, medicine, food, science

and occasional news reporting. Wrote an average of 10 to 12 stories per month.

1998-2000   Editor, The Phoenix, Phoenixville, PA

In charge of all aspects of producing a daily newspaper including, writing

editorials, hiring and coaching reporters, editing copy, graphic designing,

orchestrating layout, and developing and adhering to a budget.

1991-1993   Managing Editor, Cape May County Herald, Rio Grande, NJ

1993-1998   Special Projects Editor, Cape May County Herald

Joined the Herald as Managing Editor of the news side where responsibilities

included writing, coaching other reporters and developing packages and series.

Promoted to Special Projects editor in charge of all aspects of approximately 75

special sections and projects per year.

PRIOR NEWSPAPER POSITIONS

Managing Editor, The New Milford Times, New Milford, CT; Editor, Bay Ridge Life, Brooklyn, NY;                   Managing Editor, The Phoenix, Brooklyn, NY; Reporter, The Brooklyn Paper, Brooklyn, NY; Editor, The Norwood Courier, Norwood, MA; Co-Editor, The Citizen, Brookline, MA

OTHER

Public speaker on adoption issues and mental health issues; essay in Groovy Chicks Road Trip to Peace, Cook Communications, July, 2005