About Aaron

[Site Under Construction]

Bio

Born on Eglin Air Force Base in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., Aaron moved to Gulfport, Miss., at the age of 7 when his father was stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss.

Aaron was home schooled from kindergarten through high school, graduating in 2003, and attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College - Perkinston Campus from 2003-2005, graduating with a 3.86 cumulative grade point average.

During his tenure at MGCCC, Aaron played on the football team, participated in intramural sports, and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa - the national Junior College honor society.

In 2004, Aaron began working as an intern at The Sun Herald newspaper in Biloxi, Miss., writing stories and learning first-hand about journalism. After his internship he continued to work as a stringer for the newspaper, covering mostly community news.

In 2005, Aaron was awarded scholarships to attend Louisiana State University's Manship School of Mass Communications, where he graduated in December 2007.

During his tenure at LSU, Aaron participated in intramural sports; was a member of the Association of Black Communicators; served as an officer one year for 220U, an on-campus ministry organization; worked two years as a photographer at the Daily Reveille, LSU's school newspaper; and worked as a Resident Assistant for two years.

Aaron worked as a photographer for the school's newspaper, the Daily Reveille where he became the main sports photographer in 2007. He spent hours photographing everything from New Orleans, La. for a special Hurricane Katrina anniversary edition, to meetings going on around campus, to any other campus goings-on and sports of every kind.

Aaron also received a summer internship to the Advocate, Baton Rouge's daily newspaper in summer 2007, while a senior at LSU. The newspaper created a summer internship especially for him in which he could write for several sections of the newspaper and spend a few weeks as a photographer as well. Aaron wrote stories in the Advocate's sports section, people section, Ascension Parish section, metro section, and took photographs.

Aaron graduated from LSU in December 2007 with a cumulative 3.4 grade point average and accepted a job as editor for The West Side Journal in Port Allen, La.

The West Side Journal serves as the official newspaper of West Baton Rouge Parish and is a weekly newpaper seen by nearly 5,000 people every week.

Aaron's duties at the Journal are news reporting, feature writing, attending meetings, photographing and page layouts.

Click here to contact Aaron.

Mass Communications Experience:

- Reporter at the Sun Herald newspaper in Biloxi, Miss. - summer 2004-2006

-Photographer at the Daily Reveille, LSU campus newpaper - spring 2005-fall 2007

-Volunteer radio show host at WAOY 91.7 radio station in Gulfport, Miss. - summer 2005

-Reporter and photographer at The Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge, La. - summer 2007

-Editor at The West Side Journal newspaper in Port Allen, La. - January 2008-present

Memberships:

Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Journalists (BRAABJ), membership chairman

Awards:

-2012 Louisiana Press Association

In its first appearance in Division 5 after the LPA's reorganization, the West Side Journal competed against all Louisiana newspapers with a circulation of less than 5,000 people - including daily newspapers, twice- and thrice-a-week publications, and other weekly publications.

1st place - Best Breaking News Story, Best News Coverage

2nd place - Best Lifestyles Coverage, Most Effective Use of Graphic Design on a Single Page, Best Feature Photo, Community Service

3rd place - Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, Best News Photo, Best Photo Package, General Excellence

1st place – Individual Feature Photo-Color
1st place – Individual Feature Photo-B&W

-2011 Louisiana Press Association

The West Side Journal newspaper won the Newspaper of the Year award for Division 7 - weekly newspapers with a circulation of less that 5,000 people.

1st place - Best Front Page, Best Editorial Page, Best Feature Story, Best News Story, Best Lifestyles Coverage, Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, Best Investigative Reporting, Most Effective Use of Graphic Design on a Single Page, Best Headline, Best News Photo, Best Feature Photo, Best Sports Photo, Best Photo Package, General Excellence

2nd place - Best Feature Story, Best News Story, Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, Best News Photo, Best Feature Photo, Best Sports Photo, Best Photo Package

3rd place - Best Single Editorial, Best News Story, Best Feature Photo

1st place – Individual Feature Photo-Color
1st place – Individual Feature Photo-B&W
1st place – Individual Feature Writing

-2010 Louisiana Press Association

1st place - Best Single Editorial, Best Photo Package

2nd place - Best Front Page, Best Single Editorial, Best Regular Column, Best Lifestyle Coverage, Best Photo Package,

3rd place - Best Editorial Page, Best News Coverage, Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, Best News/Feature Photo, General Excellence

1st place – Individual Feature Photo-Color
1st place – Individual Feature Photo-B&W

-2009 Louisiana Press Association

The West Side Journal newspaper won the Newspaper of the Year award for Division 7 - weekly newspapers with a circulation of less that 5,000 people.

1st place - Best Feature Story, Best News Story, Best Lifestyles Coverage, Best News Coverage, Best Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event, Best Investigative Report, Most Effective Use of Graphic on a Single Page, Best Breaking News Photo, Best Feature Photo, Best Sports Photo, Best Special Section, General Excellence

2nd place - Best Front Page layout, Best Editorial Page layout, Best Single Editorial, Best Regular Column, Community Service

1st place – Individual Feature Photo-Color
1st place – Individual Feature Photo-B&W
1st place – Individual Feature Writing

-2008 Louisiana Press Association

1st place - Best Front Page layout, Best Editorial Page layout, Best Single Editorial, Best Feature Photo, and Best Photo Package

2nd place - Best Feature Story and Best News Coverage

3rd place - Best Lifestyle Coverage and Best Feature Photo

1st place – Individual Feature Photo-Color
2nd place – Individual Feature Photo-Color
2nd place – Individual Feature Photo-B&W
3rd place – Individual Feature Writing

Other Journalism Training:

-Photoshop

-Broadcast journalism trained (shooting and editing)

-Some Avid and other editing programs

-Dreamweaver