MATTHEW PENIX, M.P.A.

 P.O. Box 25
Fall Branch, Tenn. 37641
513.373.9060
penixmatt@hotmail.com
matt@penixproductions.com

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS
  • Founded and managed a full-service media services production company serving Tennessee and Louisiana.
  • Earned a Master of Arts in public policy and administration from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Cincinnati.
  • Received more than 15 journalism awards within five years from the Louisiana Press Association for news writing, feature writing and investigative reporting.
  • Eighteen years of journalism experience, including positions at two Pulitzer Prize-winning newspapers.Broke stories that CNN, ESPN and NBC’s “The Today Show” aired for national broadcasts.
  • Recruited as an expert commentator for live TV and radio programs, including CNN’s “Headline News” and Ireland’s RTE Radio.Covered state and presidential elections for The Associated Press.
  • Wrote bylaws, and code of ethics for three nonprofit organizations: the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame; Terrebonne Advocates for Possibility, a nonprofit dedicated to wetland restoration; the Helio foundation, the largest nonprofit organization serving Arizona and Florida focused solely on education.
  • Started a successful grass roots campaign to secure legislative funding for LOUIS, a multi-million-dollar statewide online library database for 47 higher education institutions throughout Louisiana.
  • Nominated by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal for the Youth Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.
  • Inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration, a professional association dedicated to the advancement of education, training and research in public policy and administration.

EDUCATION

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY
College of Law
New Orleans, La.

  • One year of post graduate doctoral work in 2013.

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS, MPA
New Orleans, La.  

  • Earned, with academic and leadership honors, a Master’s in Public Administration in June 2012 with a focus on city government, public policy and emergency preparedness.
  • GPA: 3.93.
  • Thesis title: “Improving Risk Communication to the New Orleans Homeless: A Qualitative and Exploratory Study.” The thesis addressed methods to effectively disseminate warnings and safety messages to the homeless, who are especially vulnerable to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina (see attached abstract). Publication in academic journals is pending.

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, BA
Cincinnati, Ohio.

  • Graduated in June 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication/Journalism.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PUBLISHING
Penix Productions Co.
Louisiana and Tennessee
President & CEO
 2016 to present

  • Founded and managed a full-service media productions company.
  • Responsible for developing digital marketing plans, social media and search engine strategies for clients in Tennessee and Louisiana.
  • Coordinated multimedia outreach for clients, including production of stories, editing, website development, audio and video production.
  • Specific services included: Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Email Marketing, Reputation Management, Analytics and Lead Tracking, Strategic Storytelling, and measurable search, social, and digital advertising.
  • Generated data to optimize charitable and for-profit websites to boost search engine relevancy and engagement, including enhancement of site architecture and careful key topic placement for mobile and internet accessibility and promotion.

PUBLIC RELATIONS
The Catholic Foundation, Archdiocese of New Orleans
New Orleans, La.
Public, Media Relations Coordinator
 2015-2016

  • Responsible for public and media relations encompassing eight civil parishes (counties) with a total population of 1.2 million -- roughly 500,000 Catholics -- across 4,208 square miles, including more than 100 church parishes and schools that educate more than 9,000 students annually.
  • Social Media Director – New followers surged up to 4,000% monthly, never less than 300%. Responsible for all social media strategies, including development of unique and curated content. 
  • Authored, developed and implemented brand new 2015-2016 strategic marketing plan to reach constituents.
  • Wrote, edited, and published monthly newsletter.
  • Co-launched the nation’s first online-only Catholic-focused “giving day”, which garnered national press and secured $1.3 million to benefit 112 schools, parishes, and not-for-profits, tripling its financial goal. Produced copyrighted logo, promotional videos, talking points, and press releases, each coordinated with overall social media strategy. Secured live guests spots on TV, and coverage in both print and radio on virtually all news outlets in greater New Orleans.

JOURNALIST
Reporter/Editor for Bristol Herald-Courier & VIPSeen
2016 to present
Mandeville, La.

  • Covered a variety of breaking news, business and feature stories in East Tennessee and Virginia.
  • Edited and designed a quarterly business magazine.
  • Covered stories on call, 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

Reporter for The Associated Press
2009-2015
Mandeville, La.

  • Covered a variety of breaking news and feature stories in New Orleans and neighboring areas.
  • In addition to breaking news, coverage areas included elections, crime, public affairs and other newsworthy topics.
  • Covered stories on call, 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

Columnist and feature writer for the Pulitzer Prize-winning New Orleans Times-Picayune
2010-2015
New Orleans, La.

  • Authored popular weekly column titled “The Tammany Sportsman.”
  • The column focused on outdoor life and recreational activities, environmental issues affecting outdoors enthusiasts, active lifestyles, recreational sporting events, breaking news and more.
  • Wrote feature stories on a variety of public interest topics in addition to the weekly column.

Editor, reporter for The St. Tammany News
2007-2009
Covington, La.

  • Part of a reportorial staff at The St. Tammany News that won the newspaper’s 16th consecutive award from the Louisiana Press Association for best editorial content.
  • Wrote as many as five stories per day, covering news from the courts, the parish council, various police departments, the city government, school board and Capitol Hill.
  • Developed a comprehensive marketing study to analyze what stories garnered the most newspaper sales and when.

The New Orleans City Business
2006-2007
New Orleans Publishing Group
New Orleans, La.

  • Wrote for three publications simultaneously, chiefly the company’s flag newspaper The New Orleans City Business.
  • Only reporter in the New Orleans metro area assigned primarily to cover the oil and gas beat in the wake of the Gulf Coast oil spill.

The Slidell Sentry News
2003-2006
Slidell, La.

  • Served as interim managing editor and as general assignment reporter covering courts, city council and human-interest stories.
  • Won individual awards for coverage of Hurricane Katrina and newsworthy events during the aftermath of the storm.
  • Oversaw the newspaper’s transformation into The St. Tammany News after the Slidell Sentry News headquarters was destroyed by hurricane Katrina.
  • While on staff, the Slidell Sentry News won its 13th consecutive Louisiana Press Association award for best editorial content.
  • Related journalistic achievements
  • Conducted high-profile interviews with such public figures as actors Ben Affleck, Marisa Tomei, Jimmy Fallon, Saudi Arabian Prince and U.S. Ambassador Prince Turki Al-Faisal, and musicians Lance Bass of N’Sync and John Tesh.

PUBLICATIONS

“Improving Risk Communication to the New Orleans Homeless: A Qualitative and Exploratory Study”: University of New Orleans, 2012, Master’s Thesis Volumes.
Wrote more than 1,200 articles published in local newspapers, including the Slidell Sentry News, News Banner, St. Tammany News, New Orleans CityBusiness and others.
Published a two-part series about Hurricane Katrina in The Cincinnati Post, which was disseminated nationwide by major news wire services.
Published articles for more than 40 websites.
Developed, edited and designed an alumni relations and graduate student newspaper named PASAA Pages and an alumni relations and graduate student newspaper named BETA NUS.

ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

PUBLIC POLICY CAMPAIGN
Partnered with neighboring student and alumni organizations, various lawmakers and other stakeholders to halt state congressional budget cuts and secure funding for LOUIS, a multi-million dollar statewide online library database for 47 higher education institutions throughout Louisiana. For more information, visit: https://sites01.lsu.edu/wp/louis/files/2011/07/June162011VOL20ISSUE11.pdf.
BROADCAST APPEARANCES
Interviewed by Jane Velez-Mitchell on Nov. 12, 2008, on CNN’s Headline News.
Appeared on Ireland’s RTE Radio, the American equivalent of NPR, on Nov. 15, 2008.
Discussed public policy, politics, crime and other topics as an expert commentator on local radio shows from 2006-2009.
BREAKING NEWS EXPERIENCE
Consistently broke local news stories before other major media outlets, including the Times Picayune, and major radio and TV news channels such as CNN, ESPN, and NBC’s “The Today Show.”
STATE AND REGIONAL AWARDS
Won 15 major news writing and reporting awards during a 10-year journalism career (see awards section below).
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS
Organized and co-founded a New Orleans chapter for this international 501c3 nonprofit organization representing thousands of members working for solutions to public administration problems (currently serving as Program Chair).
More than 10,000 people worldwide are ASPA members.
Developed a public relations campaign to reach and recruit public administrators including mayors, lawmakers, academics and department heads throughout 11 parishes (counties).
Planned, developed and instituted speaking engagements, luncheons and other events.
LOUISIANA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Wrote bylaws, and code of ethics adopted as the founding documents for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, a 501c3 nonprofit operated by the Louisiana State Museum system in a partnership with the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
TERREBONNE ADVOCATES OF POSSIBILITY
Drafted bylaws, and code of ethics used to incorporate this 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to wetland restoration in southeastern Louisiana.
HELIO FOUNDATION
Drafted the founding documents for the Helio Foundation, a nonprofit investing in educational opportunities for underprivileged children worldwide.
PASAA PAGES
Founded, edited, designed, wrote stories and managed a support team of reporters, designers and photographers for PASAA PAGES, an alumni relations and student newspaper.

BETA THETA PI
Co-founder, secretary, public relations chairman and executive board member for Beta Theta Pi, an academic, social and philanthropic non-traditional dry fraternity at the University of Cincinnati.
While serving this organization, Beta Theta Pi ranked first in grades and was recognized as Student Group of the Year.
BETA NUS
Founded, edited, designed and wrote stories for Beta Nus, an alumni relations student newspaper, which publishes thousands of copies quarterly.

ACADEMIC HONORS AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • Phi Kappa Phi, an academic honor society open only to graduate students with GPAs ranking among the top 10 percent nationwide.
  • Omicron Delta Kappa, a competitive and invitation-only public policy leadership and honor society. Alumni include heads of state, lawmakers, entertainers, professional athletes, inventors, newsmen and others such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Hillary Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Bob Hope, Herman Cane, Gerald Ford, Peyton Manning, Joseph Biden Jr., George Bush, Michael Bloomberg and Walter Cronkite.
  • Pi Alpha Alpha, an invitation-only National Honor Society of Public Affairs and Administration working toward education, training and research in public policy and administration.
  • Youth Leadership Summit: Nominated by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal for national leadership program hosted in Washington, D.C. The summit focused on innovative solutions to problematic social ills.
  • Society of Professional Journalists
  • American Society of Public Administrators
  • Public Administration Student and Alumni Association
  • Amnesty International

AWARDS

The following awards were won individually or as part of a news reporting team (name is included for individual awards) from 2003 to present:


Best Editorial Page, 3rd Place, St. Tammany News
Best News Coverage, 3rd Place, St. Tammany News
Best Special Section, 1st and 2nd Place, St. Tammany News

Best Front Page, 2nd Place, St. Tammany News
Best Editorial Page, 1st Place, St. Tammany News
Best Lifestyle Coverage, 1st Place, St. Tammany News
Best News Coverage, 1st Place, St. Tammany News
Best Continuing Coverage of a Governmental Issue, 2nd Place, Matthew Penix and Chad Ruiz, St. Tammany News
General Excellence, 1st Place, St. Tammany News

Newspaper of the year, St. Tammany News
Best Front Page,  2nd Place, St. Tammany News
Best Editorial Page, 3rd Place, St. Tammany News
Best Feature Story, 2nd Place, Matthew Penix, St. Tammany News
Best News Story, 1st Place, Matthew Penix, St. Tammany News
Best Lifestyle Coverage, 1st Place, St. Tammany News
Best News Coverage, 1st Place, St. Tammany News
Best News Photo, 2nd Place, Matthew Penix, St. Tammany News
Best Feature Photo, 2nd Place, Matthew Penix, St. Tammany News
Best Photo Package, 1st Place, Matthew Penix, Anne Lautzenheiser, Chad Ruiz, St. Tammany News
General Excellence, 2nd Place, St. Tammany News      
Best Website, 1st Place, St. Tammany News
 
Newspaper of the Year, St. Tammany News
Best Front Page, 2nd Place, St. Tammany News
Best Editorial Page, 3rd Place, St. Tammany News
Best Feature Story, 1st Place, Matthew Penix, St. Tammany News
Best Lifestyle Coverage, 1st Place, St. Tammany News
Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, 1st Place, Matthew Penix, St. Tammany News
Best Special Section, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place, St. Tammany News
General Excellence, Honorable Mention, St. Tammany News
Community Non-Affiliated Division, 1st Place, St. Tammany News

Best Lifestyle Coverage, 1st Place, The News Banner
Best News Coverage, 2nd Place, The News Banner
Best Special Section, 1st Place and 2nd place, The News Banner
General Excellence, 1st Place, The News Banner
Best Feature Story Covering Hurricane Katrina or Rita, 1st place, Matthew Penix, The News Banner
Best Initial Coverage of Hurricane Katrina or Rita, 1st place, St. Tammany News

Newspaper of the Year Award, Staff, Slidell Sentry News
Editorial Sweepstakes, Staff, Slidell Sentry News
Best Front Page, 1st Place, Slidell Sentry News
Best Editorial Page, Honorable Mention, Slidell Sentry News
Best Lifestyle Coverage, Honorable Mention, Slidell Sentry News
Best News Coverage, 1st Place, (Staff) The News Banner
Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, 3rd Place, Matthew Penix
General Excellence, Honorable Mention, Slidell-Sentry News

Editorial Sweepstakes, Slidell Sentry News
Best Front Page, 1st Place, Slidell Sentry News
Best Editorial Page, 3rd Place, Slidell Sentry News
Best News Story, 3rd Place, Matthew Penix, Slidell Sentry News
Best Lifestyle Coverage, 1st Place, Slidell Sentry News
Best Investigate Reporting, 1st Place, Matthew Penix (Staff), Slidell Sentry News
General Excellence, 2nd Place, Slidell Sentry News

MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE

OFFICER, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION STUDENT AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: Led a group dedicated to academic excellence and the advancement of public administration issues.
Organized community service projects, fundraising benefit galas, campus and community forums, and served as public information officer.
INTERIM MANAGING EDITOR: Managed a group working for academic excellence and the advancement of public administration issues.
Organized community service projects, fundraising benefit galas, campus and community forums and served as public information officer.
FEATURE EDITOR, THE NEWS RECORD: Responsible for layout, design, editorial content, hiring and firing of staff writers and photographers; wrote, assigned and edited stories.

PUBLIC SERVICE

CLIENT ADVOCATE, NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE

  • Helped create and operate the first pretrial service division at the New Orleans Public Defender’s Office.
  • Conducted jail-cell interviews with a variety of inmates, including those convicted of rape, burglary, assault and other crimes.
  • Contacted family members of those arrested for bail, and helped mediate problems with the judicial system.
  • Secured the release of at least one wrongfully charged inmate and fought to ensure that inmates received proper medication.
  • Helped mediate cases with lead attorneys.