Leah
Hickman
Reporter, Writer, Editor
About Me
I'm a bookworm and word nerd who likes teaching and telling true stories through the written word. I am an avid reader of classic literature, a grammar geek, and a life-long student. My favorite kind of ice cream is any sort of Dairy Queen blizzard, and I marvel at flowers, sunsets, and the moon.
In my spare time, when I'm not reading or blogging, I'm probably enjoying puns, running in the great outdoors, or sharing laughs and learning with my friends and family.
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Work Experience
Reporter | Fall 2019 to present
WORLD Magazine in Cleveland, OH
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I cover the life beat for WORLD Magazine and WORLD Digital. In addition to occasional life-related stories for the biweekly magazine, I write the website's weekly Vitals column and email newsletter. These stories involve reporting on national and international news related to abortion, euthanasia, and other end-of-life issues.​
Intern Writer / Reporter | Summer 2019
WORLD Magazine in Austin, TX
In this role, I wrote news roundups for the WORLD News Group website and contributed to longer feature-length articles for WORLD's print magazine. ​
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Content Creator / Marketer | Summer 2017 to Spring 2019
ZENTX Media Group in Freeland, MI
My daily tasks as the content creator and marketer included writing content for the ZENTX and Exhibit Farm blogs and websites and managing both brands' social media outlets. For Exhibit Farm's agricultural displays, I researched and wrote educational content. Using programs including Canva, Photoshop, After Effects, and Adobe Premiere Pro, I created graphics and videos for the ZENTX and Exhibit Farm Instagram pages, Pinterest boards, and YouTube channels. I also wrote monthly email newsletters for Exhibit Farm and photographed products for both websites' portfolio pages.
Intern and Tour Guide | Summer 2016
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society in De Smet, SD
At the Memorial Society, I spent most of my time planning and writing posts for the Society's blog. I redesigned and wrote the monthly e-newsletter, managed the non-profit's Facebook and Instagram accounts, and photographed artifacts and exhibits. I also had the privilege to lead tours of De Smet's historic buildings and serve guests in the gift shop.
Editorial Assistant Intern | Summer 2015
Colson Center for Christian Worldview in Lansdowne, VA
My primary tasks at the Colson Center were formatting and writing blog posts and feature articles for the non-profit's website. I was heavily immersed in current events to gather topics for the blog, and I also viewed movies and read books to review on the site. I also helped manage the Facebook and Twitter accounts and occasionally wrote scripts for their podcasts and radio programs.
Resident Assistant | 2014-2015 School Year
Olds Residence for Freshman Women at Hillsdale College
High School Study Abroad Call Team | Spring 2015
Admissions Office at Hillsdale College
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Writing Experience
Freelance Script Writer | Winter 2018 to Spring 2019
The Point, BreakPoint's short radio program and blog (breakpoint.org/category/the-point/)
News Contributor | Fall 2017 to Summer 2018
Christian Headlines, an online Christian news source (christianheadlines.com/contributors/leah-hickman/)
Student Editor-in-Chief | Fall 2015 to Spring 2017
Fool’s Talk, a publication of Hillsdale College’s Equip Ministries (foolstalk.wordpress.com)
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Contributing Essayist | Spring 2017
The Forum, Hillsdale College's student magazine (hillsdaleforum.com)
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Website Content Creator | Spring 2017
Will Carleton Academy's Website, a charter school in Hillsdale, MI
Blogger | Summer 2010 to present
Grass People, a personal blog (aworldofgrasspeople.blogspot.com)
Contributing Poet | Fall 2016
The Tower Light, Hillsdale College’s student literary publication
Movie Reviewer | 2014
Christian Spotlight on Entertainment (christiananswers.net/spotlight)
Editor and Writer | Summer 2014
Movies@Home, Midland Evangelical Free Church’s summer curriculum
Blogger | Fall 2012 to Summer 2014
Im2Moro, a millennial non-profit political organization (im2moro.org)
Education
May 2018
The WORLD Journalism Institute
August 2013 - May 2017
Hillsdale College
I studied under current and former WORLD writers and Dordt College faculty for this intensive, two-week course on Christian journalism and other media. I learned the basics of reporting as well as of radio, photo, and video journalism. For the last few days of the course, I worked with WORLD editor-in-chief Marvin Olasky in the feature writing track. This team conducted interviews and gathered facts to be used in a WORLD magazine feature article.
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I graduated from Hillsdale with a B.A. in English and minors in German and Classical Education. While at Hillsdale, I participated in the dance team, served on the leadership team of a campus ministry, and volunteered as editor-in-chief for a student-run publication. I was a member of the German honorary and the Phi Kappa Phi honorary, and I was on the Dean's List every semester.
June 2012, July 2013
Hillsdale College High School Study Abroad Program
In 2012, I visited locations including Oxford, Stratford, and Windsor with Hillsdale College faculty members during the study abroad tour "The Land and Literature of England." The next summer, I joined Hillsdale College classics department faculty members in Rome, Florence, Pompeii, and Venice for the "Western Civilization: Visions from Italy" study abroad program.
