Résumé

ALSO SEE “LINKED IN” PROFILE | LINKS TO PUBLISHED WORK | “WHO’s WHO” BIOGRAPHY  | RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN CAREER & COMMUNITY | MUSIC 

William G. Schmitt
307 E. LaSalle Ave. 340-L
South Bend, Indiana 46617
billgerards@gmail.com | 574.276.0340  | bschmitt@alumni.princeton.edu

OnWord Collaborative Communications blog (written 2017-2019), especially with thought-leadership on journalism and society; Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In.

More on my recent accomplishments (diverse multimedia and strategic-consulting activities), with numerous links: books; freelance writing and content management; podcasts/broadcasting; media outreach; music instruction and community engagement).

 

Thought-Leadership on Social Polarization, News Media, and Values

New initiative as author, commentator, public speaker (2017-present), pursuing a role as athought-leader in commentaries and public presentations. His goal: stimulate constructive discussions about social polarization, the role of news media, and renewal through Catholic values and common-good approaches to urgent policy issues. Numerous links to radio/podcast interviews and other resources are listed here.

Author of book published May 2018, When Headlines Hurt: Do We Have a Prayer? The Pope’s Words of Hope for Journalism. My OnWord.net blog has links for your purchase. This book on the Pope’s Franciscan prayer for journalism placed me on Catholic radio; you can listen to interviews in which I discuss Pope Francis’ 2018 and 2019 World Communications Day messages about news/journalism, social polarization, and Christian values.

 

Podcast and Radio Production: Co-host, Interviewee, Concept/Content Innovation

Podcast co-anchor and assistant producer (2017=present)

Radio host (2017-present), live hour of fund–raising, Redeemer Radio, 4/20/18; substitute co-host of The Kyle Heimann Show on Redeemer Radio, with Ken Hallenius, 8/9/18.  Links to recent radio interviews, including Teresa Tomeo show and Son Rise Morning Show.

Podcast/radio participant as interviewer, interviewee re: thought-leadership cited above (2017-present), see numerous links to archived appearances.

Independent Journalist, Marketing Communications Consultant, Freelance Writing-Editing

Research and writing for the 2017-2018 Annual Report of the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life. Also, see my posts at the new McGrath blog. See my stories about events in the McGrath Institute news section.

Research and writing for the Purdue University College of Engineering.

Media/public relations consultant and writer (2017-present), member of development and communications teams at Good Counsel Inc., based in NYC area. News releases and other writing yielded a number of stories, national and local, in new and traditional media. Thank you, Our Sunday Visitor, for your recent coverage of how Good Counsel’s maternity homes empower women.

Outreach specialist and writer, for the Science & Religion Initiative and other activities at U. of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life. See my S&RI newspaper article. News items posted at Institute site July-October: S&RI; Ratzinger book; Dignity of women.

Freelance writer/consultant, August 2018-present, Purdue U. College of Engineering. See links to stories on professors, staff and alumni at Recent Accomplishments page.

Multimedia promotion strategist and planning aide–elected member of Board of Directors (December 2018) at The Music Village, school and community arts center. Marketing assistant for innovations in teaching / performances; created print products (content and design)  for two Open House events, 2017-present). See my accordion-instructor comments on back page of December 2019 newsletter. Book project in development.

News/feature writer/photographer, Today’s Catholic , Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese.

Editor on retainer for planned publication, 2018-2019), book project in development phase.

Freelance public relations writing and media outreach, Society of Catholic Scientists, announcement hailing vote by astronomers that honored priest-discoverer of “Big Bang” theory.

 

Communications & Marketing at University of Notre Dame

Communications Specialist: 2010-2017
Institute for Educational Initiatives/Alliance for Catholic Education
Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism

Writing, editing, digital content marketing, multimedia management & story pitching

Communications Manager, Manager for Client Services, Writer/Editor: 2004-2010
Office of Public Affairs and Communications

Multimedia content for diverse units, print/digital product planning and collaboration

Manager, Communications and Publications: 2003-2004
Kellogg Institute for Public & International Affairs

Writer, Editor, Journalist, Multimedia Content Manager, Specialized Publications

Commissioned, freelance news/story-telling, as well as brand journalism, in the fields of education, faith, business, science, public affairs: 1993-present
Books (see below). Today’s Catholic, Notre Dame Magazine, Editor & Publisher

Senior Editor: 1998-2003
Chemical Week magazine: personnel supervision, management news, ethics coverage

Managing Editor, Washington Bureau Chief, Reporter: 1986-1989; 1993-1998
American Metal Market: daily newspaper: staff management, reporting on government

Associate Editor: 1989-1992
The Kiplinger Washington Letter: reporting, analysis on environment, policy, politics

Senior Editor, Economics Editor: 1981-1985
Metals Week: newsletter published by McGraw-Hill; global business/economic analysis

Copy Editor, Reporter: 1978-79; 1981
The Yonkers Herald Statesman and other Gannett newspapers; The Indianapolis News, Pulliam Journalism Fellowship, earned in competition 1978

Author, Adjunct Professor

Author, When Headlines Hurt: Do We Have a Prayer? (Electric Moon Publishing 2018)  Author, Heartfelt Gifts to You, to Share: On Valentine’s Day, There’s More to Say (2018) Author, Words of Life: Celebrating 50 Years of the Hesburgh Library (U of ND Press 2013)
Author, Football Weekends at Notre Dame: Snapshots and Traditions (U of ND Press 2008)
Prayer for a collection published in book: Lead, Kindly Light  (2005)
Course taught: “Multimedia Journalism” (University of Notre Dame, 2008)
Courses taught: “Newswriting I”; “Introduction to Mass Communications”  (Fordham University and Long Island University, 1999-2002)

 

Education

MPA, Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs, Princeton University
Received Master in Public Affairs degree 1981; internships with NJPTV, New York Times
BA, Fordham University
Received degree 1978; Communications major; summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Additional Education:
• Principles of Marketing, Intro to Marketing. Notre Dame informal course audits                • Recipient, Pulliam Journalism Fellowship (1978): summer desk work, The Indianapolis News; nationally recognized competition selecting top journalism graduates                        • Certificate: Education for Ministry. Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, 2004-2005
• Certificate: Theological Studies. Georgetown University, 1994
• Social Media Success Summit 2012. Certificate of completion, online-skills classes
• Christian Doctrine for Catechists: Informal audit of graduate-level course (2018)

Participation in Communities & Organizations

American Chesterton Society. Active member, South Bend chapter & national level
American Marketing Association. Active member of the Michiana chapter
Faculty Learning Community on Student Media Creation. Kaneb Ctr. for Teaching, 2016
Knights of Columbus. Long active in Council 553; prolife chair; elected secretary, parish roundtable chair
Media groups: National Press Club; Society of Professional Journalists, president of NYC and Fordham chapters; Catholic Writers Guild; Redeemer Radio Advisory Board             Phi Beta Kappa. elected treasurer of Notre Dame chapter (2005-2017)
Secular Franciscan Order. Professed (lifetime commitment) 2001. Elected local fraternity president 2007

 

Digital Media/Audio/Video

Multimedia outreach: strategy/tactics; content marketing; brand journalism; story-pitching; creativity, collaboration, and coordination across numerous platforms and organizational units
Social media: Twitter, YouTube, Linked-In, blogs.nd, other social media, ND & personal
Audio/video: interviewer, interviewee, and co-host for podcasts; videographer, “Our Town South Bend” (PBS); co-writer, co-producer, video for donors; scholar interview; audio for Knights of Columbus

 

Additional Writing and Editing

Multiple Media, Diverse Products and Project Management Roles:
Notre Dame Lawyer (several stories in spring 2008 issue begin on p. 10 of this pdf)
ND Echoes: Feature stories on ND alumni in Haiti development and Global Explorers service
Notre Dame Magazine articles and blog posts from 2008 to 2016 –see online archive
Notre Dame Science (stories in latest issue begin on p.2 of pdf); Notre Dame Business (magazine & digital)
Website initiation collaborations: Congregation of Holy Cross, M. Div., Hesburgh History, “Gameday” site, Institute for Educational Initiatives
Numerous University and Institute news releases and stories featuring people, messages
Management of annual reports and other promotional documents, concept to completion Oversight of scholarly “white paper” analytical publications at Kellogg Institute

See multiple links to published news and commentary pieces: Editor & Publisher & more under “News and Commentary” in science, business, media, general-interest publications 

Honors

National Outstanding Professional Chapter Member, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) 1995 in Washington, DC
Knights of Columbus council honors: “Knight of the Month”; “Family of the Month” 2015 Featured in blog post by Lisa Hendey in her “Good Measure” blog, 2014                         Who’s Who in America. Who’s Who in the World. Selected to be among biographies (2010-2016)