Sean Flinn 

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Current position

 

  • Web Communications Specialist, University of Guelph-Humber (guelphhumber.ca/news), May 2011 to present

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Selected past publication as journalist 

 

  • As Toronto-based freelancer, filed inaugural Real Wives of the NHL profile for hockey lifestyle magazine, The Fourth Period, report on new spring 2011 music books for Quill & Quire and Telegraph-Journal feature profile of Charles Foran (author of Mordecai: The Life & Times)
  • The Telegraph-Journal, Salon (arts) section, Saint John, NB: covering books, music and visual art; starting February 2010-May 2011
  • Multiple bylines in national media, including The Globe and Mail, en route magazine, cbc.ca/arts, Quill & Quire (publishing/books monthly),Canadian Art, The Canadian Medical Association Journal (Left Atrium, arts section), University Affairs (publication of Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada), with varying publication dates
  • Contributing writer, arts (features, reviews and news), The Coast, March 2004-March 2011
  • Regular feature and review contributor to Visual Arts News (quaterly magazine of Visual Arts Nova Scotia, spring 2005-fall 2010
  • Profile writer, novascotialife.com, website for province's brand campaign (Come to Life), May-August 2009 (contract)
  • Editorial fill-in: arts editor at The Coast, February-March 2008 and staff writer at Sport Quarterly (publication of Sport Nova Scotia) for March and June 2008 issues

 Past marketing & communications positions

 

  • Communications Manager, External Relations, Dalhousie University, Halifax, August 2002-August 2004: researched and wrote copy for two consecutive record-high Annual Fund campaigns; wrote original draft and edited successful $2 million proposal for new student/academic resource centre; wrote short feature for planned giving newsletter, resulting in $250,000 gift to English department; lined up, wrote for, edited and proofed Dalhousie magazine; oversaw interim alumni/giving website; and, collaborated on large communications/marketing team on first-ever integrated marketing and branding process at Atlantic Canada's largest university

  • Communications Officer, Division of Advancement, University of Toronto, October 2001-August 2002: Project-managed revamp of giving website in collaboration with third-party agency, resulting in a Bronze award at the 2002-03 Prix d'Excellence held by Canadian Council on the Advancement of Education; wrote Annual Fund letter copy (with signatory Norman Jewison), campaign publication stories and copy for updated recognition brochure

  • Marketing/merchandising copywriter, Chapters Online, February 1999-July 2001: Wrote annotation copy for book titles on chaptersglobe.com; wrote editorial, merchandise, promotion/contest and marketing copy for chapters.ca's music department; co-created content and wrote copy for music e-newsletters; and, collaborated on merge of brands and copywriting style for chapters.indigo.ca (before being laid off)

Publicity & promotion 

 

  •  Release of What We're Made Of  (Oberon Press), debut short story collection by Halifax writer Ryan Turner, Fall 2009: researched and compiled list of independent booksellers across Canada and sent first contact on behalf of author; pitched media and secured multiple reviews, including Quill & Quire and feature coverage in Telegraph-Journal and CBC Radio throughout Atlantic Canada, as well as retail buys in stores throughout Maritime region and Toronto

  • Launch of Halifax-Toronto-based small press, Invisible Publishing, fall 2007: researched and compiled list of independent booksellers across Canada and sent first contact on behalf of publishers; pitched media and secured stories on and reviews of inaugural titles, including a Globe and Mail First Fiction review by Jim Bartley of Devon Code's book of short stories, In a Mist 

  • New business solicitation for Mad Science of the Maritimes, winter 2008: collaborated on research, writing and editing of letter copy, as well as building segmented contact list, with proprietor, Ryan Turner, of extra-curricular science education business; resulted in increased business, notably first-ever inclusion in March Break programming across system of Halifax Public Libraries

  • Publicity and media relations for 2007 Atlantic Book Awards, January-April 2007 (contract): increased media coverage in print, online publications, as well as radio (both CBC and campus stations)

Other past experience (journalism, office/administrative, retail and labour) 

 

  • Retail customer service, Love, Me Boutique (independent store carrying art/craft, clothing and books), Halifax, January-February 2010 (maternity leave fill-in)

  • Mail processing clerk, Service Nova Scotia & Municipal Relations, March-April 2010 (temporary placement through David Aplin Recruiting)

  • Data entry/customer-service clerk, Service Nova Scotia & Municipal Relations (Heating Assistance Rebate Program), September 2009-January 2010 (temporary placement through David Aplin Recruiting)

  • Office/warehouse coordinator & reception fill-in, Kids Can Press, June-September 2001

  • Bookseller, part time (occasional fulltime fill-in), Book City (Danforth and Bloorwest VIllage locations), Toronto, 1996-2000

  • Landscape labourer, Altius design, Toronto, seasonal between 1996-1999

  • Editorial Assistant, CBC TV National News, Toronto, June 1995-July 1996 (term contract)

  • Intern production assistant, CBC Radio, Thunder Bay, ON September-December 1994

  • Summer student landscape labourer, National Capital Commission, Ottawa, 1990-92

  • Volunteer host/producer, CHUO-FM, 1989-92

Technical & Physical Abilities

  • Social media user/observer (primarily Twitter, Flickr and YouTube; currently rethinking best personal use of Facebook)
  • Web CMS user (experienced with customized/in-house programs; using Yola now, but also familiar with Tumblr and Wordpress; basic knowledge of Dreamweaver and HTML)
  • Working knowledge of scanners, digital photography, PhotoShop, digital audio record/edit
  • Some knowledge of Quark X., InDesign
  • Microsoft Office
  • Experienced in mail processing (franking, scanning, distributing), courier (electronic and hard-copy send/receive), photocopying, switchboard
  • Knowledge of customized data entry and search
  • Physically fit, longstanding member of Y (cardio/resistance), walker (can't run that fast, but can walk really far), transit user (no driver's licence)

Education

  • Short Story workshop (with poet/novelist Sue Goyette), Writers Federation of Nova Scotia, Halifax, January-February 2005
  • Bachelor of Journalism, University of Regina, (two-year accelerated program for degree-holders), 1995
  • Bachelor of Social Sciences., conc. in Political Science, University of Ottawa, 1992 (three-year)
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