BIO

Ali was born and raised in New York. After transferring from the University of California, Santa Barbara, she began majoring in Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a concentration in Reporting. She graduated in May 2020, with two additional minors in Digital Studies and Theatre.

Ali is a freelance journalist in Chicago. She is interested in opportunities related to local news and arts reporting, feature writing and news editing. She previously worked as the local government reporter for the Capital Times, a watchdog reporter in North Central Wisconsin, covering local and state government for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and also as the State Capitol Intern for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

In her free time, Ali likes to write poetry, watch Audrey Hepburn films and eat macaroni and cheese (from the box).

Get in Touch

MY RESUMÉ

JOURNALISM & COMMUNICATION EXPERIENCE

THE CAPITAL TIMES | LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPORTER

November 2021 - November 2024

Reported on city and county governments, policy impacts and local events, leveraging investigative techniques, FOIA requests and community relationships
Produced high-engagement stories, exceeding one million page views, prioritizing a digital-first approach and leveraging SEO to expand reach
Reporting resulted in policy changes in the city of Madison’s hiring processes and zoning reforms; recipient of award for best local government reporting in state
Moderated three public-facing panels for Cap Times Idea Fest to facilitate community dialogue on issues such as housing affordability and local environmental challenges

USA TODAY NETWORK-WISCONSIN | GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG REPORTER

October 2020 - November 2021

Pitched, researched and reported on local government, public issues and education in Wausau and central Wisconsin
Investigated and covered government accountability across the region and state; covered August 2020 primary, November 2020 general election and April 2021 election in Wisconsin
Reported on intersection of life and news at local and state level; write features, arts, health and business stories
Selected to serve on two statewide committees for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin: Diversifying Audiences and Sources Committee and One Wisconsin Newsroom Committee

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL | STATE CAPITOL INTERN

May 2020 - August 2020

Report on state politics from the Journal Sentinel’s Capitol Bureau
Pitch, research and write stories on state and national government, police brutality protests in Madison, and the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on the state; file FOIA requests; create strong SEO content and tags
Summer contract extended to travel to Milwaukee to report on the 2020 Democratic National Convention

ON WISCONSIN MAGAZINE | EDITORIAL INTERN

THE DAILY CARDINAL | NEWS MANAGER

THE DAILY CARDINAL | CITY NEWS EDITOR

THE DAILY CARDINAL | ARTS EDITOR

WESTCHESTER MAGAZINE | EDITORIAL INTERN

May 2019 – May 2020

December 2019 - May 2020

May 2019 - December 2019

December 2017 – December 2018

May 2018 – November 2018

Conducted archival and current research to pitch and write targeted, engaging magazine content; edited magazine pages for copy errors
Crafted and implemented social media strategy across all platforms and monitored reader engagement

Oversaw editors and staff of five daily news desks to internally coordinate content and edited all stories for complete news coverage and engaging writing style
Coordinated with management and other departments on content, visuals and story packaging

Pitched and generated city and county desk content both online and in print
Wrote, assigned and edited stories using AP style under deadlines; gave assignments to staff covering local government, events and crime

Edited articles, organized layout of printed paper, communicated and collaborated with other newspaper desks, organized in-office performances to support local artists, wrote feature-length arts articles
Organized weekly meetings with arts writers and columnists; liaised with venue representatives to arrange event coverage

Created online and print content for Westchester Homes Magazine and Westchester Weddings Magazine
Wrote stories, pitched ideas, fact-checked, conducted market work, selected images and assisted on photoshoots

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

2017-2020
Bachelor of Journalism Arts
GPA: 3.71

Allison graduated from UW-Madison in May 2020. She majored in Journalism, with a concentration in Reporting and earned two certificates in Theatre and Digital Studies.

AWARDS

WISCONSIN NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION

First-place awards in 2021, 2022

and 2023 (ten awards total) in the state’s top division for enterprise, health care and local government reporting; third place for statewide investigative category, 2024

Advancing Democracy Fellow, 2023

TKTKTK

MILWAUKEE PRESS CLUB

Third-place for in-depth feature, 2023

SHARON STARK JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP

Summer 2020

IRENE RYAN THEATER SCHOLARSHIP NOMINATION

November 2018

DEAN'S LIST

Spring 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2019, Fall 2019