About
Jess McHugh is a writer and editor who has reported from North and South America, Europe, the Caribbean, and West Africa.
Her work has appeared in The Nation, The Paris Review, TIME.com, Village Voice, International Business Times, CNN, AFP Services, The Believer, Smithsonian Magazine, Business Insider, InStyle, and Travel + Leisure, among others.
She has written hundreds of stories with an eye on international geopolitics, ranging from the fight to preserve world heritage in Palmyra, Syria, to the plight of pregnant refugees making the journey across Europe. She has interviewed U.N. diplomats, U.S. senators, and former members of the Irish Republican Army.
Following the November 2015 Paris attacks, she was sent to cover the aftermath on the ground as a reporter for International Business Times. After sending dispatches from the Saint Denis raids, she attended one of the first concerts in the wake of the attacks, writing features on the recovery of the music scene as well as a profile of a Syrian refugee.
She is bilingual in French, decent at krav maga, and excellent at knitting.
WRITING
The Paris Review
The Nationalist Roots of Merriam-Webster's Dictionary
The Nation
Why Is Arkansas Rushing to Execute Its Prisoners?
Village Voice
The Story Behind the Most Colorful Building in NYC
International Business Times
Refugee Women Are Carrying More Than An Uncertain Future
What A Breakdown Of Free Travel Means For Europe's Economy
French Anti-Radicalization Policy Questioned
The Remaking Of Sinn Fein In Northern Ireland
Beer, Wine, And Other Acts Of French Defiance
One Syrian's Journey From Aleppo To Paris
See Jess' full archive from IBT here: http://www.ibtimes.com/reporters/jess-mchugh
Travel + Leisure
Palmyra: How a Beloved World Heritage Site Became a Battlefield
Inside the Fight to Keep Liverpool's Punk Scene Alive
Here's How Hotel Security Could Change After the Las Vegas Massacre
Do Electronic Bans on Flights Make the U.S. Safer?
A Brief History of the Modern Suitcase
Explore the Magical Ephemera of New York City's Biggest Prop House
Winemakers in Bordeaux Are Reinvigorating Their Traditional Terroir
TIME
New Security Measures Could Delay You At the Airport. Here's What to Expect.
CNN
Dole Back On Hill to Try and Push Through U.N. Disability Rights Treaty
Perry to Texas Reps: Don't Approve Obama Border Proposal
The Believer
CV
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Time Inc. — Digital News Reporter — August 2016-February 2018
- Wrote and edited 2-5 articles per day focusing on breaking news including travel, technology, and security, while juggling longer enterprise features under tight deadlines.
- Writing appeared in TIME.com, Business Insider, Smithsonian Magazine, Money, InStyle, Food & Wine, and Southern Living.
- Juggled both quick hits and enterprise features, including a deep dive into the reconstruction of Palmyra and a feature on the underground punk scene in Liverpool.
- Reported from around the world including South America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
- Used strong SEO, social media, and data analytics skills to promote stories across digital platforms.
- Committed to employing new forms of storytelling, including data graphics, video, and on-camera appearances.
The Nation, Village Voice, AFP Services — Freelance Writer and Editor — 2015-Present
- April 2017 story in The Nation explored the mounting legal challenges to executions in Arkansas.
- Sept. 2016 story in the Village Voice profiled the man behind one of the most notable buildings in East Village.
- Wrote wire stories covering high-profile events at the U.N., edited several dozen pieces of translation from French to English for AFP Services.
International Business Times – Breaking News Reporter (Europe) — 2015-2016
- Pitched, wrote, and reported 3-5 breaking news stories daily on international current events with a focus on Europe, including dispatches and enterprise features on topics such as Brexit, Greek debt, and terrorism.
- Covered the November Paris attacks on the ground in France, writing two features daily on the police raids, the city’s recovery, and its future in counter-terrorism.
- Singlehandedly managed the Western European beat, selecting the most important stories for our audience.
- Used my bilingual skills in French to report stories both on the ground in Paris and throughout my tenure in New York.
The Missing Slate Magazine — Contributing Editor — 2014-2015
- Wrote on topics ranging from film commentary to political analysis for this acclaimed, international arts and literary magazine, while also soliciting and editing articles for the essay section.
- In-depth article on Israel-Palestine appeared in the 2014 print anthology.
CNN – Newsgathering Intern – Washington, D.C. — June-August 2014
- Covered beats at the Supreme Court, Capitol Hill, and locations around Washington, D.C.
- Published articles on the UN disability rights treaty, election politics, and the Gaza conflict that relied on constant interviewing, research, transcription and monitoring of wires.
Radio Dunyaa — Intern — Saint Louis, Senegal — January 2011
- Curated and delivered daily news reports in French on-air, covering early rumblings of the Arab Spring for one of the largest radio stations in the city.
EDUCATION
Yale University, Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature
Université de Paris X Nanterre, Paris, France September 2013-May 2014
Université de Paris VII Diderot, Paris, France September 2010-May 2011
SKILLS
AP Style, CMS, SEO, iNews, Mediasource, Wordpress, Microsoft Office, Social Media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), Sprinklr, Adobe, and Photoshop.
Contact