This page was last updated in May 2021.
EDUCATION
New York University, College of Arts and Science, New York, NY
Summa cum laude with Highest Honors, GPA: 3.92
B.A. in Journalism and Self-Designed Honors Major, Art History minor
EXPERIENCE
Independent Writer, Editor and Digital Strategist, Berlin, Germany, and New York, NY, USA
2016-present
+ Pitch and receive art and culture writing assignments for Frieze, ArtReview, artnet News, Garage, Artsy, Wallpaper* and The Travel Almanac, among others.
+ Produce written content for: Art Basel, BMW Art Guide, Carbon 12 (Dubai), Drdova Gallery (Prague), Mic.com, Twyla.com, and more
+ Content Strategy Consultant, Liste Art Fair Basel (April 2021–present)
- Strategic advisement on all content development for Liste Art Fair Basel, Liste Showtime Online and Liste Expedition Online
- Manage a confidential editorial project launching in June 2021 (from initial conception to commissioning to editing, translation and publication)
- Write and edit various forms of communication on a regular basis since 2018
+ Contributing Editor and Producer at MONA Productions (June 2018–present)
- Oversee social media for MONA’s online magazine, Berlin Art Link
- Write copy to be distributed in weekly and monthly newsletters on MadMimi and MailChimp, as well as on the website
- Develop and implement newsletter and social media campaigns for MONA’s client AURORA, a biennial in Dallas, Texas. Edit and direct the creation of multimedia content, including copy distributed online, in newsletters, and across social platforms
+ Edited: two 100-page books for David Chipperfield Architects Berlin with contributions by Ludwig Engel and Something Fantastic; The Incantation of the Disquieting Muse (2016), a 200-page collection of critical essays on divinity, supra-realities and witchery, for SAVVY Contemporary, Berlin; Mashup the Archive (2017), Revolution 3.0 (2018), Hauntologies (2019, forthcoming), three books of academic essays and artists in conversation, for Iwalewahaus, University of Bayreuth, Germany
+ Special Projects & Apple News Editor, Art Basel (June 2019–present)
- March 2021-present: Commissioning Editor for “On view now” monthly article series
- Jan.-Dec. 2020: Conceptualized editorial plan and commissioned and edited 25+ articles related to Art Basel’s 50th anniversary for artbasel.com. Liaise between in-house editorial team and freelance writers; upload articles to CMS with SEO best practices
- June 2019-present: Apple News Editor
- Learned Apple’s JSON coding language and built Art Basel Apple News channel from the bottom up
- Oversee the publication of Art Basel’s native content on Apple News
- Monitor analytics and ad campaigns
- Work directly with Art Basel’s in-house editorial and marketing teams to develop strategy
+ Project Editor and Content Development, Design Hotels (Dec. 2021)
- Developed and wrote all digital copy for Design Hotels’ cultural event series ‘Further’ in partnership with La Pause Residency
- Included: Defining the editorial mission, writing the introductory article, editing 7 feature-length artist interviews, captioning images, developing the social media campaign, proofreading video captions and texts in final layout
+ Write catalogue essays, i.e. for artists such as Daniel Rich, Sebastian Schmidt, Bernhard Buhmann and Daniel Vlček
+ Editor at Spike Art Magazine (Dec. 2017–June 2019)
- Edited essays and exhibition reviews, communicated with internal and external teams to meet deadlines for the quarterly publication; copyedit digital articles
+ Community Manager at Galerie Springmann (Oct. 2017–June 2018)
- Developed social media strategy, increasing Instagram following by 500 percent and Facebook by 300 percent in the first month
- Promoted events at the gallery (exhibitions, concerts and performances) across internal platforms and developed partnerships with external platforms, including ticket giveaways and media sponsors
Interview Magazine, New York, NY
+ Associate Online Editor, Nov. 2014–June 2016
- Oversaw the concept to publication for all articles in the art, music and nightlife verticals of Interview Magazine’s website, reaching more than 600,000 unique monthly viewers
- Interviewed numerous artists and musicians, including: Thomas Ruff, Patti Smith, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Lawrence Weiner, Ragnar Kjartansson, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Christine Sun Kim, Sean Scully and Taryn Simon
- Managed the homepage, website comments and Interview’s social media pages
+ Production and Editorial Assistant, Jan.–Sept. 2014; Web Editorial Intern, Sept.–Dec. 2013
- Worked directly with Photo Director and Managing Editor to assist content flow and confirm image credits
- Transcribed interviews for cover stories
- Wrote articles for print and online
The Prague Post, Prague, Czech Republic
+ Editorial Intern, Feb. 2013–May 2013
- Pitched story ideas and wrote weekly art-focused articles for a readership of 40,000
- Assisted with fact checking, composing news briefs and content flow
Harper’s BAZAAR, New York, NY
+ Web Editorial Intern, Jan. 2012–May 2012
- Assisted editors with research, built slideshows, transcribed interviews, and uploaded content via CMS
- Covered events, wrote and pitched story ideas
Washington Square News, New York, NY
+ Staff Writer, Sept. 2010–Dec. 2012 +Contributing Photographer, Sept. 2010–Dec. 2012
+ Deputy Features Editor, May 2011–Dec. 2011
- Wrote weekly articles and took accompanying photographs for a readership of 65,000
- Distributed pitches, edited articles, managed 15+ staff writers, communicated with management
HONORS & RESIDENCIES
- 2020: Verein K’s Visiting Critics Vienna program (Vienna, Austria)
- 2019: Critic-in-Residence at studio das weisse haus (Vienna, Austria)
- 2018: Nirox Foundation Residency (Johannesburg, South Africa)
- 2016–17: Fulbright Young Professional Journalist Fellow (Berlin, Germany)
- 2015: Hearst Multimedia Enterprise finalist (New York, NY)
- 2008–14: Phi Beta Kappa, Anna and John Peter Zenger Award, Rudin Scholar, Presidential Honors Scholar, Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund recipient, National Honors Society, German Honors Society (New York, NY)
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
- Familiar with AP Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style
- Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, various CMS, as well as SEO best practices, HTML, CSS and JSON
- Proficient in Microsoft Suite, WordPress and professional social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
- Works well under deadlines, detail oriented, organized, multitasks with ease
- Communicates quickly and efficiently, works well with teams and independently
- German comprehension and composition at a B2.1 level
Emily McDermott 