About William Harless
William Harless covered politics and city government at a daily newspaper in Nashville, Tennessee for three years before joining the Peace Corps, where he served in Thailand from 2008 to 2010. At Berkeley, he plans to study television news production and investigative reporting.
In Nashville, his investigative work led longtime U.S. Congressman Bob Clement to return more than $40,000 in mayoral-race contributions, citing his reporting on the Clement campaign's use of political action committees.
After the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce forced Harless to leave a Chamber board meeting one afternoon, the city council passed legislation requiring more financial disclosure by nonprofit organizations accepting city funds.
He also broke news of delays in the financing of a major downtown ballpark-residential-business development, planned by the city, Baltimore developer Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse, and the Nashville Sounds baseball team, which ultimately fell through.
Harless helped cover the 2010 Nashville flood for The New York Times and has interned and written news for Nashville Public Radio and for 88.5 WFDD Public Radio in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
He studied English literature at Lipscomb University in Nashville and knows the best ramen dive in Bangkok.
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts, Lipscomb University
- April 2000 - May 2004
- Major in English, Minor in History, Honors Program, GPA: 3.96
Published Stories:
- Composting facility where brothers died fined $166,890
- Center for Investigative Reporting / California Watch
- William Harless, class of 2013, writes a follow-up piece for The Center for Investigative Reporting and California Watch about troubles at the largest composting facility in California.
- Growth of composting strains oversight of industry
- Center for Investigative Reporting / California Watch
- William Harless, class of 2013, writes for The Center for Investigative Reporting and California Watch about the deaths of two young, undocumented workers at the largest composting facility in California and about the state's struggle to effectively manage the growing industry.
- With a soft drink tax on the ballot, Richmond stirs
- Richmond Confidential
- William Harless, class of 2013, produced this short video on a proposed penny-per-ounce tax on soft drinks in Richmond, Calif.
- In Richmond, Foreclosed Homes Breed a New Kind of Problem
- The New York Times
- William Harless, class of 2013, writes in The New York Times about the city of Richmond's struggles to pinpoint the parties responsible for deteriorated foreclosed and preforeclosure houses and to hold financial institutions accountable for them.
- A concussion shortchanges the Oilers, but they still fight
- Richmond Confidential
- William Harless, class of 2013, writes in Richmond Confidential about how a struggling, inner-city high school football team rallies after one of its players suffers a concussion.
- Woman Grows Lettuce with the Help of Koi Fish
- The Bay Citizen
- William Harless, class of 2013, writes in The Bay Citizen about how a Bay Area organic farmer is turning koi fish waste into fertilizer for her vegetables.
- In the Iron Triangle, a potluck and a melting pot
- Richmond Confidential
- William Harless, class of 2013, writes in Richmond Confidential about the residents of an inner-city neighborhood who are learning to mix their cultures and to make their block a safe place for children to play again.
- In Richmond, Banks Conceal Ownership of Blighted Homes
- The Bay Citizen
- William Harless, class of 2013, writes in The Bay Citizen about how Richmond, Calif.'s police chief and mayor are taking a tougher stance on banks they said are letting empty, foreclosed houses deteriorate.
- Army Corps Is Criticized for Actions in Flood
- The New York Times
- William Harless, class of 2013, writes in The New York Times about how Tennessee Congressman Jim Cooper criticized the Army Corps of Engineers after the 2010 Nashville flood.
- After Flooding, Nashville Musicians Assess Losses
- The New York Times
- William Harless, class of 2013, writes in The New York Times about how musicians in Nashville took stock after the 2010 flood in Music City.
Work Experience:
- News Intern
- 88.5 WFDD Public Radio - Winston-Salem NC ( May 2011 - July 2011 )
- Wrote, recorded interviews and edited sound for daily spot news on state and local politics, government and human interest subjects
- Education Volunteer
- U.S. Peace Corps - Amphur Na Kae, Jangwat Nakhon Panom ( January 2008 - January 2010 )
- Primary assignment: with Thais, co-taught English to primary and middle school students at two public schools in two rice farming villages in northeast Thailand; helped coordinate regional English camps for groups of 60-300 students; helped organize an HIV-AIDS educational workshop for farmers’ wives.
- Beat Reporter: Neighborhoods, City Government and Politics
- The City Paper - Nashville TN ( July 2004 - October 2007 )
- Wrote several articles daily; strong emphasis on source building; consistently beat other news outlets.
- News Intern
- WPLN, Nashville Public Radio - Nashville TN ( January 2004 - May 2004 )
- Reported and recorded and edited audio for short news pieces including several regarding the Tennessee General Assembly.
Skills:
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Final Cut Pro
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