Suzanne Rust

SUZANNE RUST

WRITER, EDITOR, ON-AIR TALENT

 

SUMMARY

A dynamic, engaging writer, editor, and media personality with a passion for lifestyles, culture, food, and entertainment. Extensive radio, television, and publishing experience in the United States and internationally, including frequent appearances as an expert on the Today Show, CNN’s Open House, and The Tyra Banks Show. Strong hosting skills with segments on the Today Show website. Excellent on-air, writing, editing, and research credentials. Outstanding interpersonal skills.

EXPERIENCE

ESSENCE MAGAZINE, New York, NY                                                                           December 2011 – Present
Editor, Freelance

• Pitch story ideas and write articles.

 

NBC NEXT MEDIA, New York, NY                                                                                   March 2010­­­­­ – Present
Lifestyle Host, Freelance

• Mars Candy: Demonstrated holiday themed recipes for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter. Segments appeared on the Today Show website with teasers on the Today Show.
• GMC Trade Secrets: Offered tips on giving your home curb appeal for the Today Show website.

 

THEGRIO.COM, New York, NY                                                                                         December 2009 – Present
Editor, Freelance

• Select engaging books and write targeted reviews for this MSNBC website.
• Schedule interviews with select authors and media personalities on featured topics.

REAL SIMPLE, New York, NY                                                                                            September 2004 – November 2009
Staff Editor & Television Spokesperson

• Responsible for the research and the writing of three Real Simple columns (Your Words, the Simple List, and Real Life), targeting a readership of 8.8 million.

• Featured frequently on television news segments as a spokesperson for Real Simple magazine on subjects including entertainment, organization, beauty, and health. Featured on WNBC (the Today Show, Today in New York), CNN (Open House), WCBS, NY1, WB11, WABC, Fox, and WPIX (The Tyra Banks Show).
• Appeared in how-to videos on realsimple.com with lifestyle tips, such as how to pack the perfect weekend bag.
• Appeared in episodes of the second season of Real Simple on PBS.
• Collaborated with consumer marketing and conducted classes for Pottery Barn Kids and Real Simple’s annual Holiday Solutions nationwide shopping event.
• Increased readership of the magazine’s back page with Real Life, a well-read monthly profile of a Real Simple reader.

BLACK ISSUES BOOK REVIEW, New York, NY                                                         July 2002 – July 2007
Contributing Editor

• Wrote and assigned articles and book reviews for this African American literary magazine.

• Edited Children’s Bookshelf, a column of children’s book reviews, from May 2003 to July 2007.
• Reviewed books on various topics from health and beauty to art and entertainment.

AMISTAD PRESS/HARPERCOLLINS, New York, NY                                                April 2003 – July 2004
Photo Editor/Photo Researcher (freelance assignment)

• Selected and secured rights for over 200 photographs for the book I’ll Find a Way or Make One: A Tribute to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

STEWART, TABORI & CHANG, New York, NY                                                           May 2002 – July 2002
Photo Researcher (freelance assignment)

• Secured rights and assisted in the selection of photographs for the design book Harlem Style.

THE AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND PROJECT, New York, NY                                 June 2001 – August 2001
Photo Researcher/Assistant Photo Editor (freelance assignment)

• Chose photographic material for a brochure on Manhattan’s African Burial Ground.

RADIO 105 NETWORK, New York, NY                                                                           October 1999 – September 2001
Radio Journalist

• Reported weekly on New York curiosities, trends, and events for one of Italy’s leading radio stations.
• Proposed and reported segments on subjects ranging from celebrity happenings and museum exhibits to Off-Broadway theater and New York fashion events.
• Interviewed personalities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Cher, musician Lenny Kravitz, designers Salvatore Ferragamo and Tommy Hilfiger, and Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter.

HER INTERACTIVE/HER ONLINE, New York, NY                                                    April 1996 – August 1996
Journalist

• Wrote a bimonthly entertainment column for a website dedicated to teenage girls.

• Selected appropriate material for the target audience (e.g., a hot band’s latest album, a popular actor’s upcoming film, celebrity gossip, etc.).

RIZZOLI PERIODICALS, New York, NY                                                                        August 1995 – July 1999
Senior Editorial Assistant/Journalist

• Assisted the U.S. correspondent of Italy’s leading weekly magazine Oggi.
• Acted as U.S. liaison and media-relations representative for the Milan, Italy, headquarters of Rizzoli publications, which included Anna, Salve, and Italian Elle.
• Proposed and wrote articles on American culture, fashion, beauty, trends, and travel for Italian Elle.

VARIETY MAGAZINE, Rome, Italy                                                                                 August 1992 – September 1994
Freelance Writer

• Wrote articles on the Italian film and television industries as a stringer for the Rome bureau of this weekly entertainment trade magazine.

 

EDUCATION

SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE, Bronxville, NY
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts

SKILLS

Excellent research, writing, fluent Italian, conversational Spanish and French; Microsoft Office; HTML; InCopy.
Blogger: http://livingwithrust.blogspot.com/
On-Air Talent/Reel: http://www.imdb.com/video/demo_reel/vi4228880921/