Media Relations
Ghostwriting, Media Coaching and Public Affairs
As the Communications Director at the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, I played a crucial role in managing both external and internal communications for the agency. My responsibilities encompassed a wide range of duties, including:
Strategic Communications
- Led a team of 4-5 people in developing and implementing communication strategies.
- Focused on presenting the agency in the best possible light while safeguarding sensitive information.
- Adhered to South Carolina law regarding public dissemination of information.
Media Relations
- Maintained daily communication with local media, handling requests for comments, documents, and audio/visual data.
- Occasionally served as the Public Information Officer, notably during the Johns Island standoff in September 2023.
- Prepared the Sheriff for media interviews and wrote in the Sheriff's voice.
- Guided the Sheriff and the agency with crisis communication strategies and messaging.
Content Creation
- Wrote and edited news releases to inform the public about County services, programs, and initiatives.
- Ghostwrote op-eds on behalf of the Sheriff.
- Managed employees who oversaw our agency’s social media accounts.
Special Projects
- Managed special events, including the ESGR Freedom Award ceremony and the unveiling of a roadside memorial for a fallen deputy.
- Played a significant role in the effort to adjust salaries for 99% of agency employees, which involved creating and giving several presentations to County Council.
- Improved and co-led the sheriff's office's summer internship program and helped revive its Citizens Academy.
Public Information Officer Duties
- Responded to Freedom of Information Act requests and 911 call requests from the media.
- Coordinated with other public information officers at local government agencies as needed.
My role demonstrated a blend of strategic communication, crisis management, content creation, and project management skills. The position required a deep understanding of law enforcement operations, media relations, and public sector communications. My work in writing for the Sheriff and representing the agency in high-stakes situations showcases the trust placed in my abilities and judgment.
In the following links, you'll see examples of quotes I wrote, op-eds that were ghostwritten, project management and media interviews I arranged.
Op-eds
“Graziano: Better jail programs make Charleston County safer” -- The Post and Courier
“Graziano: Why I ended Charleston County sheriff’s participation in 287(g) program” -- The Post and Courier
“Graziano: Law enforcement needs public, politicians to do their job against gun violence” -- The Post and Courier
Media Relations
“Charleston Co. sheriff: Deputies to only contact women seeking abortion at their request” -- WCSC
“Manhunt over on Johns Island, shooting suspect is dead, sheriff says” -- The Post and Courier
“Charleston Co. sheriff calls for more resources to fight homelessness” -- WCSC
Sheriff's talking points on homelessness issue -- CCSO (internal)
“CCSO: Deputies recover enough fentanyl to kill 570K people from West Ashley apartment” - WCIV
"CCSO officials remain optimistic despite staffing shortage at detention center" -- WCBD
Project and Event Management
“Charleston County Sheriff’s Office earns national recognition” — WCBD
“Fallen deputy honored with road sign on Savannah Hwy” — WCBD
Roadside memorial unveiling run-of-show -- CCSO (internal)
“Restoration Unit opening at Al Cannon Detention Center” — WCBD
Restoration Unit FAQ for media -- CCSO
Restoration Unit ribbon cutting run-of-show -- CCSO (internal)
“Charleston County pledges $3.8M for possible shortfalls after sheriff raises deputies’ pay” — The Post and Courier
Public Information
CCSO news release: Deputies arrest Johns Island man in 2016 homicide
CCSO news release: Deputies arrest two juveniles over stolen vehicle
CCSO news release: Detention Center NARCAN vending machine saves lives
Crisis Communication
“Charleston Co. sheriff answers Mace’s claims of improperly releasing detainees” -- WCSC
“Mace threatens Charleston Co. sheriff with subpoena, sheriff lays out procedure” -- WCSC
"She needs to do her damn job: Charleston sheriff responds to congresswoman's allegations" -- WCSC
CCSO news release: Sheriff releases body-worn camera footage of fired deputy
CCSO news release: Sheriff releases deputy's dash camera footage from Oct. 21 incident
“Charleston Co. Council asks Department of Justice to investigate county jail” -- WCSC
“Charleston County Sheriff responds to criticism, calls for DOJ investigation into jail” - WCBD
CCSO news release: Statement on medical provider struggles and staff email release
“Charleston County Sheriff expresses concern over new medical service for Al Cannon” — WCIV
In-House Media Production
As Communications Director, I led a highly talented staff. My leadership focused on fostering their skill development and assigning engaging projects. This approach resulted in numerous outstanding initiatives that I had the privilege of overseeing. While some ideas originated from me, my staff brought them to fruition.
Our team also prioritized accurately representing the agency's perspective. To achieve this, we often created and shared our own "news" directly with our social media followers. This strategy ensured that the public was well-informed about our activities and the reasoning behind them.
The following are videos that my team produced as part of that education campaign.
News conference in regard to ICAC sting operation
Statement and body-worn camera footage release after deputy's firing
K-9 Winnie joins the agency's ranks
Agency opens new education unit at county jail
Unveiling of fallen deputy's roadside memorial
Ribbon cutting of restoration unit at county jail
Learn more about agency's citizens academy
Marketing and Advertising
As Communications Director, I collaborated closely with administrative and community engagement staff to enhance our recruitment efforts. While being mindful of budget constraints and taxpayer dollars, we developed targeted paid advertising campaigns with local broadcast and digital platforms to effectively reach our audience. These campaigns proved highly successful, resulting in a significant increase in applicants compared to previous efforts.
I played a key role in scriptwriting and oversaw the production and editing process. Additionally, I worked with sales representatives to ensure optimal ad placements, guaranteeing that the South Carolina audience received the most impactful content possible.
The following are examples of those campaigns that were eventually aired on television.
Football-themed recruitment campaign
Political Consulting
Strategy, management, and communications
In 2019, I co-created a political consulting firm called Make Progress SC, which had a mission of electing more women to state and local office. During this time, I utilized my background as a journalist and as a community organizer to serve clients looking to serve South Carolinians in elected office.
My skills as a political consultant were leveraged by taking the lead on the following:
- Field strategy
- Campaign messaging
- Media buying
- Call-time management
- Fundraising messaging
- Media relations
- Campaign management
- Campaign budgeting
- Familiarity with platforms such as Votebuilder, MiniVAN, NGP, Nationbuilder, Squarespace, Mailchimp
Campaigns
- Kristin Graziano for Sheriff (2020)
- Krystle Matthews for House (2020)
- Eunice Lehmacher for House (2020)
- Judith Polson for Senate (2020)
- Denise Waldrip for House (2020)
- Heather Bauer for House (2020)
- Kim Nelson for Congress (2020)
- Lowcountry Livability PAC (2019)
Volunteer activities
While many have been inspired to take an interest in politics, what sets me apart is I actually take action. I have knocked hundreds of doors and created strategies people told me were impossible. But when you believe, you succeed. I have attempted to bring that to every single speaking engagement and volunteer activity I have been able to take part in.
The following are examples of times where I have taken the lead to share knowledge and showcase my leadership skills:
- Taught campaign field, canvassing best practices, fundraising, and messaging to organizations such as Emerge South Carolina and Charleston County Democratic Party
- Created the precinct organization strategy for the Charleston County Democratic Party in 2018, which directly lead to the 1st Congressional District flipping blue for the first time in 40 years.
- Charleston County Democratic Party Precinct Director, 2018-2019
- James Island-Folly Beach Democratic Party leader, 2018-2019
- James Island 9 Precinct President, 2018-2021
- Charleston County Democratic Party Executive Committeewoman, 2020-2021
Campaigns
- Amy Brennan for City Council (2017)
- Carol Jackson for City Council (2017)
- Joe Cunningham for Congress (2018)
- Charleston County Democratic Party coordinated campaign (2018)
- John Tecklenburg for Mayor (2019)
- Elizabeth Warren for President (2019-2020)
- Charleston County Democratic Party coordinated campaign (2020)
Advocacy
Doing good for the community
I've always been driven by a personal mission to serve my community and create impactful and lasting change. I want my children to know that they are capable of making a difference, no matter how small the action may be. We never know who may be watching.
Growing up, I participated regularly in acts of service with my church or at my school. In adulthood, I have been fueled by life experiences and what I've personally witnessed. But there are three life experiences that have directly impacted my desire to contribute to the greater good of the community.
In 2005, I was honored to donate a kidney to a cousin in need. I was able to witness the miracle of modern medicine and the fragility of the human body. My gift gave my cousin nine healthier years and a better quality of life before she eventually died. I am currently a living donor mentor for TransplantTalkSC and a volunteer on the fundraising committee of the national group Kidney Donor Athletes.
After the birth of my children, in 2011 and 2014, I suffered from postpartum depression. Both times humbled me and instilled a desire to improve postpartum care for mothers and filled me with an unyielding compassion for women who feel changed and alone after becoming mothers. I created a community of women in Charleston who were searching for connection, which has lead to long-lasting friendships. It also led me to advocacy work with Charleston Birth Place and other freestanding birth centers in South Carolina. In 2013, I was tapped to co-lead a campaign to save freestanding birth centers from closure in the state. My messaging and advocacy was successful, and it later earned me a spot on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Birth Centers in 2017. I joined board members at the March for Moms in Washington, D.C., in 2018 to lobby on Capitol Hill for legislation that would improve maternal health care in the United States. In 2021, at the end of my term on the board, I was honored with the Community Award for my advocacy as a birth center consumer.
In 2016, I lost a close friend to poverty and lack of quality health care. She was a force and had a heart bigger than the sun. The pain of losing her and wanting to stand up for what I believed to be just and fair coincided with me advocating for people who felt similarly lost: refugees. That year, I worked with another local mom to collect soft-structured baby carriers for Syrian refugees landing in Europe. And in 2017, I worked with my local church to sponsor two refugees in the face of an administration that was hostile to refugees and immigrants. Despite a broken national system, our small group of people were able to make an impact on human life and make it a little better.
The following are examples of media interviews that showcase my advocacy work in Charleston.
"National Donor Day: A talk with Leyla Gulen" -- Fox 24 Charleston
"Charleston mosque pairs with moms to send baby carriers to Syrian refugees" -- WCIV
"South Carolina-bound refugees affected by president's immigration ban" -- The Post and Courier
"Family politics: Through discussions, debates, parents can model good civic behavior" -- Lowcountry Parent
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Contact Me
Testimonials
Please see testimonials about me and my work on my LinkedIn page. More references available upon request.