JENNIFER K. PERKINS
Multimedia Journalist
"Take a feather and tickle the foot of a giant."
- Tickling Giants, 2016 Documentary
Jennifer is a multimedia journalist who writes the first draft of our community's history.
Learn more about Jennifer below
ABOUT ME
ABOUT ME
When they say you will never leave Harlan alive, I can testify that it is simply not true.
​
I am Jennifer K. Perkins. Born and raised in Eastern Kentucky, I feel a distinct call to serve this region.
​​
Since 2023, that service has taken the form of News Director at WYMT-TV, a CBS affiliate television station located in Hazard, KY.
​​
Before making the transition to broadcast television, I spent several years working at a local newspaper in Corbin.
​​
My love for journalism stems from my love of history. I believe that journalists are responsible for writing the first draft of history, and I strive to do my part by reporting events and stories as accurately as possible while also trying to include the humanity of the people who are living through the events. ​​
​
While many journalists who cover Eastern Kentucky are not originally from the area, I have a perspective that can only be attributed to being raised here. My blood runs in these hills and hollers much like the neighbors whose stories I get to tell. Living in this region, I can more accurately tell stories - the good, the bad and everything in between - because I understand the people, their struggles, and their achievements.
WHAT I'VE DONE
WYMT-TV, Hazard, KY
News Director – February 2023 to Present
Producer – April 2022 to February 2023
The News Journal, Corbin, KY
People Editor and News Reporter – December 2020 to April 2022
​
The Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY
Kentucky Press Association
Internship – Summer 2020
​
The Washington Island Observer,
Washington Island, WI
International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors Internship – Summer 2019
​
The News Journal, Corbin, KY
Kentucky Press Association
Internship – Summer 2018
​
The Eastern Progress, Richmond, KY
Editor in Chief – Fall 2019, Spring 2020
News Editor – Spring 2018, Spring 2019
Opinions Editor – Fall 2017
Newspaper Deliverer – Spring 2018
WHAT I DO
I am a self-sufficient multimedia journalist with experience in writing, pagination, video, photography, and social engagement campaigns.
My current role has expanded my skillset to include training, recruitment, hiring, managerial leadership, and non-profit finance management. ​
​​
Working as a professional journalist, I have experience writing breaking news articles, feature stories, columns and editorials about a variety of topics including business and economic growth, district, circuit and federal court, crime, education, government, protests, race/diversity, and more.
​
My passion for service extends well beyond the newsroom. Currently, I am the secretary and treasurer of the WYMT Food City Mountain Classic Committee and a member of the One East Kentucky Board of Directors. ​ ​
VIDEO &
AUDIO
During my tenure at WYMT, I helped produce and broadcast newscasts, specials, individual stories and series.
FOIAs & APPEALS
I have filed FOIAs while working at The News Journal, The Eastern Progress, The Times-Tribune and The Sentinel Echo. I have filed a successful Open Meetings appeal with the Kentucky Attorney General.
Filed against the Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents Kentucky Attorney General decision 18-OMD-091
Throughout the process of covering the Colonel's Cupboard, I filed multiple FOIA requests after it was discovered the organization had discarded two trash bins worth of food that was not expired.
The EKU Board of Regents received championship rings during a lunch prior to a board meeting. I filed a request relating to the cost of the rings.
PHOTOGRAPHY
I have had photos published at The News Journal, The Times-Tribune, The Sentinel Echo, The Washington Island Observer, and The Eastern Progress. Eastern Kentucky University's student scholarship and research site, Encompass, hosts my Honors Thesis.
For the 2020 News Journal Community Directory, I was responsible for the front page photos and the related article inside the magazine.
The A-1 photo package featuring images from Corbin's first Colonel Fest were all taken by me during while covering the event.
A1 photo for the Fourth of July issue of the Washington Island Observer.
DESIGN
I completed design work at The News Journal, The Eastern Progress, and the Washington Island Observer using Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Canva.
​
In addition to design work for media publications, my portfolio includes elements such as a Google Classroom user guides created for a local teacher and a 46-page magazine that served as my honors thesis at Eastern Kentucky University.
To incorporate social media users content into our print issue, I designed the section front of the Sept. 8, 2021 issue of the News Journal, which includes social media user responses, a news article, a cartoon, and other graphic elements.
The News Journal received a letter from Santa stating Newsy would be arriving Dec. 1, 2021.
The Eastern Progress
The Eastern Progress
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many teachers were required to convert content to online formats. Laurel County Schools used Google Classroom, an online format that many students had not previously used. I created a tutorial to help students submit assignments.
