Education
Columbia University, New York, NY (Expected May 2024)
Graduate School of Journalism, Master of Science in Journalism
Focus on art and culture, lifestyle, and entertainment. Advanced training in audio production and investigative skills.
- Audio: Produced enterprise stories on a viral online test to diagnose autism, anonymous audio erotica changing the porn industry, the success of Taylor Swift among children, and pickleball courts in NYC. Produced an audio postcard about a romance-only bookshop, a sonic ID about a classical music concert for birdwatchers, and a day story on the skyrocketing of olive oil prices. Reporter and producer for Uptown Radio, a weekly radio show by Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Was awarded honors for outstanding performance in class by professors Sally Herships and Golda Arthur.
- Reporting: Wrote feature news stories on safe voguing spaces for queer youth in NYC, the life of writers and performers of color after the SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the work of intimacy coordinators and directors. Wrote community breaking news stories and reaction pieces on topics ranging from local rallies to the migrant crisis to criminal cases.
- Investigative: Reported on New York authorities neglecting cases of anti-trans violence with reference to the death of transgender woman Fernielle ‘Miss Mary’ Mora. Was awarded honors for outstanding performance in class by professor Matthew J. Rocheleau.
- Journalistic Law: Knowledgeable about topics of American and International journalistic law including defamation, issues of privacy, copyright, and freelance agreements. Was awarded honors for outstanding performance in class by professor Stuart Karle.
John Cabot University, Rome, Italy
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, minor in Classical Studies (May 2023)
Bachelor of Arts in Communications, minor in Creative Writing (May 2022)
Produced a Communications senior capstone project on Taylor Swift’s use of transmedia storytelling to create a fictional universe. Wrote an English Literature thesis about the ambivalent representation of epileptic characters in Hercules Furens and Othello. Graduated twice with Summa Cum Laude and was Valedictorian of the class of 2022.
Work Experience
Audio Reporter and Producer, Uptown Radio, New York, NY (Dec. 2023 – Present)
Reported and produced pieces on the Intellectual and Cultural Life beat. Was Senior Producer on three episodes of the show, during which I oversaw the quality and consistency of pre-recorded sound from the billboard and actualities to spots, entreprise stories, day stories, sonic IDs, and host interviews.
Digital Archivist, “Donnacirco,” Rome, Italy (Jan. 2022 – May 2023)
Worked as a research assistant and digital archivist during the making of an Italian documentary about the re-recording of Donnacirco, the first feminist musical record ever made in the country but never released.
Copy Writer, “M Come Moda,” Rome, Italy (Aug. 2022 – May 2023)
Worked as a research assistant and copy writer on an editorial fashion project by journalist and professor Giulia Rossi.
President and Staff Writer, The Matthew, Rome, Italy (Sept. 2020 – May 2023)
Supervised and directed eight issues of John Cabot’s University student newspaper and was responsible for the transition from paper to digital during COVID-19. Wrote reviews, cultural commentaries, and worked on the Spotlight column featuring interviews with professors and students.
News Writer, John Cabot University News, Rome, Italy (Jan. 2021 – May 2021)
Worked as an intern for John Cabot University’s wire service covering student life events. Edited and uploaded articles on WordPress. Recorded and edited audiovisual material for the university’s website and YouTube channel.
Speaker
John Cabot University Commencement, Rome, Italy (2022) Held the Valedictorian speech at Commencement 2022.
TEDXYouth, Rome, Italy (2019) Held the speech “And so we will persist: writing together an equal future.”
Skills and Volunteering
Audio: Proficient in Adobe Audition, Pro Tools, and Hindenburg; Experience in script writing and editing
Photo and Video: Intermediate experience in Adobe Premiere and Photoshop
Data: Experience in Excel
Associations: Women in Media, Student Member; National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, Student Member
Volunteer: VO.RE.CO, center serving meals to local communities in Rome, Italy
Languages: Bilingual in Italian and English, Spanish (intermediate), Ancient Latin & Greek (intermediate)
Giulia Leo 