BETSY RUBINER
Diarist, Author, Reporter, Editor, Storyteller
brubiner@gmail.com www.betsyrubiner.com
Books and freelance journalism
Betsy is the author of the travel guide, Fun with the Family in Iowa (Globe Pequot Press). Three of her many travel articles were included in The New York Times 36 Hours America (Taschen). She is working on a new nonfiction book about diaries with the working title: Welcome to Diary-land.
Freelance articles for publications including The New York Times, TIME, Newsweek, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Austin Statesman, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Midwest Living, USA Today, WebMD, Parenting, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Delta Sky Magazine
She writes the popular travel blog TakeBetsyWithYou.
18-year newspaper reporting career:
Des Moines Register, Iowa, Feature writer. Created Register’s first reporting position to cover children and families (1990-1999)
Wichita Eagle, Kansas, Feature writer. Created Eagle’s first reporting position to cover children and families (1987-1990)
Stamford Advocate, Connecticut, Education reporter (1984-1986)
United Press International, Boston Bureau, General Assignment Reporter (1983-1984)
Boston Phoenix, Freelance writer (1982-1983)
New York Times, London Bureau, Intern, freelance writer (1981-1982)
Writing and editing for foundations, nonprofit, public sector:
- Over 20 years of experience writing, storytelling and editing for philanthropy/nonprofit/public sector
- Skilled writer of print and online stories for foundations and nonprofits, often focused on improving the lives of at-risk children and low-income families through policy and programs.
- Produce clear, concise and compelling issue briefs, grant progress reports, annual reports, newsletters, magazines, needs assessments and Web stories, using storytelling narratives and accessible language.
- Provide editing, production support and communications strategy to aid strategic communications, public affairs departments and program officers in producing signature publications explaining the on-the-ground impact of clients’ grantmaking, major initiatives and policy objectives
- Developed and manage personal website; developed and write the travel blog, TakeBetsyWithYou
Other Experience:
- Freelance writer/editor, 2000-present, for Annie E. Casey Foundation, most recently in 2021 by editing internal communications publications.
- Freelance writer/editor, since 2000 for: Aspen Institute, Attendance Works, Reading is Fundamental, Commonwealth Fund, Community Action Partnership, Ounce of Prevention Fund, Iowa Council of Foundations, Drake University, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, Child and Family Policy Center, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater South Wood County (WI), Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Iowa Departments of Human Services, Public Health and Education, Iowa Governor’s Child Care and Early Education Task Force
- Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, writer/senior consultant, 2013-2016, writing stories about promising work by communities nationwide to help young children learn to read. Helped redesign the Campaign’s website.
Education/Training:
Cornell University, B.A. History, Ithaca, NY (1981)
Drake University, Des Moines, IA New Media Workshops on writing for the web, search engine optimization, building a blog/website (2009, 2011)
Casey Journalism Center for Children and Families, two one-week fellowships at University of Maryland: New Ways to Cover Child Care, Early Learning and Brain Development (1999) The Effects of Violence on Children (1994)