Erika Celeste
Encyclopedia
Erika Celeste is a journalist who has worked in radio, print, and television since 1992. Among other things she has collected 2 Emmys
, a Telly, and several AP
Awards.
She has worked for every major news network affiliate including ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and PBS. She has also freelanced for many national and international organizations including Voice of America
, Public Radio International and National Public Radio
. Celeste worked as executive editor of COMAR, Inc. a West Virginia publishing company, directly editing West Virginia Executive magazine. In addition she has written several documentaries including Red Salt and Reynolds, Just Like Anyone, and the forthcoming Secrets of the Valley (fall 2010) narrated by Morgan Spurlock
of Super Size Me
fame.
She is a member of the National Writers Association and The International Women's Writing Guild.
She is the founder and owner of New Moon Media Group began out of a love for journalism and entertainment. Despite working in the field as a 'day job' Celeste enjoyed the adventure of traveling to new places, meeting new people, and learning new things, that she often found herself working as a hobby at night and on the weekends.
Along the way Celeste made contacts with many interesting people from movie producers and directors, to writers and editors, graphic artists and printers. Today she works with many of them through New Moon Media Group.
. She is the oldest of eight children. Her father Wayne Brass is a UCC pastor, her mother Renee Brass, is a BSN. Later she attended Western Michigan University
, then transferred to University of Indianapolis
, and graduated from Indiana State University
with a double major in Theater and Communications and a minor in Anthropology. She married Michael Hobbs, a high school sweetheart and they had two children Cameren Justice (1992) and Kaleb Hunter (1996) before divorcing.
Additionally, Celeste is the co-owner of The Original Rolling Stone LLC along with Rockabilly Hall of Fame
r Andy Anderson. The two co-authored a book entitled Memoirs of the Original Rolling Stone. She has also co-authored a book with Singaporean motivational speaker Dr. Mel Gill
called Rebirth of Ganesha, and she has ghostwritten several other human interest stories and biographies.
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
, a Telly, and several AP
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Awards.
She has worked for every major news network affiliate including ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and PBS. She has also freelanced for many national and international organizations including Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
, Public Radio International and National Public Radio
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
. Celeste worked as executive editor of COMAR, Inc. a West Virginia publishing company, directly editing West Virginia Executive magazine. In addition she has written several documentaries including Red Salt and Reynolds, Just Like Anyone, and the forthcoming Secrets of the Valley (fall 2010) narrated by Morgan Spurlock
Morgan Spurlock
Morgan Valentine Spurlock is an American documentary filmmaker, humorist, television producer, screenwriter and journalist best known for the documentary film Super Size Me...
of Super Size Me
Super Size Me
Super Size Me is a 2004 American documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. Spurlock's film follows a 30-day period from February 1 to March 2, 2003 during which he eats only McDonald's food...
fame.
She is a member of the National Writers Association and The International Women's Writing Guild.
She is the founder and owner of New Moon Media Group began out of a love for journalism and entertainment. Despite working in the field as a 'day job' Celeste enjoyed the adventure of traveling to new places, meeting new people, and learning new things, that she often found herself working as a hobby at night and on the weekends.
Along the way Celeste made contacts with many interesting people from movie producers and directors, to writers and editors, graphic artists and printers. Today she works with many of them through New Moon Media Group.
Early years
Celeste spent most of her childhood in IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. She is the oldest of eight children. Her father Wayne Brass is a UCC pastor, her mother Renee Brass, is a BSN. Later she attended Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
, then transferred to University of Indianapolis
University of Indianapolis
The University of Indianapolis is a university located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The shortened name it uses is UIndy...
, and graduated from Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
with a double major in Theater and Communications and a minor in Anthropology. She married Michael Hobbs, a high school sweetheart and they had two children Cameren Justice (1992) and Kaleb Hunter (1996) before divorcing.
Work
Several of Celeste's stories can be found through a simple Google search of her name and various media outlets. Such stories as ayahuasca, alpacas, and adventure racing have met with much attention on Voice of America's website. Many of her stories have been translated into numerous languages including: Burmese, Croatian, Chinese, German, Korean, Spanish, and Taiwanese. Other stories she has recently written on refugee issues and a disabled driver were featured on NPR.Additionally, Celeste is the co-owner of The Original Rolling Stone LLC along with Rockabilly Hall of Fame
Rockabilly Hall of Fame
The Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on the internet on March 21, 1997, to present early rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities involved in this pioneering American music genre....
r Andy Anderson. The two co-authored a book entitled Memoirs of the Original Rolling Stone. She has also co-authored a book with Singaporean motivational speaker Dr. Mel Gill
called Rebirth of Ganesha, and she has ghostwritten several other human interest stories and biographies.
Awards
- 2010 Society of Environmental Journalists, Second Place, Outstanding Beat/In-depth Reporting, Coal: Dirty Past, Hazy Future, radio documentary
- 2007 CASE III, Advancement Awards, Special Merit Award, Step into the Maroon
- 2007 Mississippi Association of Broadcasters, Excellence in Broadcasting, Silver, A Million Stories, TV series
- 2007 CPRAM, First Place, Bulldog Tryouts, senior division TV spots
- 2007 CPRAM, Second Place, Step into the Maroon, senior division TV spots
- 2007 CPRAM, Second Place, High Notes, senior division, radio program
- 2006 CASE III Advancement Awards, Award of Excellence for High Notes, Radio
- 2004 Emmy for Campbell’s Creek Sniper
- 2003 Emmy nomination for Red Salt & Reynolds
- 2003 Telly Award for Red Salt & Reynolds
- 2003 Best Written Historical Documentary at West Virginia Filmmakers Film Festival
- 2002 Best Feature, WV AP Broadcasters Association
- 2002 Second Place, Beat Coverage, Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors
- 2001 First Place, Political Coverage, Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors
Sources
- http://www.ecnewmoon.com
- http://www.voanews.com
- http://www.npr.org
- http://www.authorhouse.com/bookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=60866