Allyson Waller is a newsletter writer for The Texas Tribune based in Austin, Texas. She’s has written for top publications such as The New York Times, Miami Herald, and Teen Vogue.
A journalism graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, Allyson started her career as a general assignment reporter, covering an array of topics, particularly politics and state government for The Texas Tribune. During her college career, she interned with notable publications such as the Miami Herald and The New York Times. Allyson now works as a newsletter writer for the Tribune, authoring their flagship newsletter, The Brief, while working across audience and product teams to inform content strategy.
Outside of her full-time job, Allyson enjoys quality time with her dog, Theo. Other joys include freelancing, taking on various passion projects such as organizing a monthly book club for Black women in Austin, keeping her pulse on the latest pop culture insights via excessive podcast listening, and consuming an unhealthy amount of romance novels. She also trying to take up knitting, but that’s still a work in progress.
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Resume
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The Texas Tribune
Fall 2018; June 2021 - PresentNewsletter Writer
Write and manage The Brief (+65k subscribers) and Brief Weekly (+14k subscribers). Both provide readers with a summaries of the Tribune’s latest stories. related to state government and policy. The Brief is delivered daily, Monday through Friday. While the Brief Weekly is delivered on Saturday mornings, providing a weekly recap of the Tribune’s biggest stories. The average open rate for both newsletters is around 50%.
Develop strategy around newsletter launches, sunsets and daily practices
Keep track of KPIs, including a monthly summary of metrics like open rates and click-thru rates for The Brief newsletter
Contributed to planning and launching of 2023 audience survey for The Brief newsletter, which generated 700+ responses from readers. Applied reader feedback and communicated updates to subscribers.
General Assignment Reporter
Wrote stories that included a mix of enterprise coverage, daily articles and explainers that stem from events dominating the news cycle as it relates to Texas politics and policy, including the Texas Legislature
Contributed to coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wrote vaccine guides for Texans, covered Texas’ health care workforce and reported on vaccine hesitancy
Investigative Fellow
Wrote stories on childcare, Medicaid and Texas’ minimum wage for the series “State of Inequality,” an investigative series funded by the Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism
Covered state elections during the 2018 midterm elections, with a focus on voter turnout and Texas House races.
Black Women on the Same Page Organizer February 2023 - Present
Organize monthly meet-ups for Black women to discuss books by Black women and non-binary authors
Engage with the public via Instagram account @blkwomenbookclub with 100+ followers
Design invite graphics via Canva for monthly meet-ups
Swoon
Newsletter author/owner
September 2023 - PresentOwner, creator and writer behind the indie newsletter, Swoon— a curation of commentary on pop culture and books, which currently has 70+ subscribers. Each edition of Swoon includes an opening essay/write up, book reviews, and a list of news and entertainment stories.
Craft social media posts on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram
Steamy Lit Newsletter freelancer December 2023 - Present
Author of Steamy Lit newsletter For Your Pleasure, which launched January 2024. The newsletter is sent to an audience of about 5k+ subscribers twice a month. The newsletter has an average 50%+ open rate.
Assist with content creation for book club Facebook group and conduct virtual book club meetings
The Daily Dot
Freelance reporter/editor
September 2022 - PresentWrite recaps of trending moments online, particularly as it relates to TikTok
Edit and fact-check articles, ensuring they include AP style and are ready to published online
The New York Times
Reporting Fellow, Express/Breaking News Desk
June 2020 - May 2021Wrote daily, breaking news and enterprise stories on an array of topics such as social justice protests, civil rights, Black culture, television/entertainment, misconduct in sports, police violence, COVID-19, Texas’ deadly 2021 winter storm and Donald Trump’s impeachment trial
Contributed live briefings for The New York Times website related to COVID-19, Derek Chauvin’s murder trial and the 2020 presidential election.
Assisted with state by state election coverage on election night 2020, also wrote a guide on the Electoral College and provided day-of coverage for President Biden’s inauguration
Miami Herald - Reporting Intern
Summer 2019Covered city and local government for the city of Miami and city of Miami Beach
Attended monthly city council meetings and wrote stories based on city agenda items
Assisted with breaking news
Houstonia Magazine - Editorial Intern
Summer 2017Wrote online articles for food, arts and culture, style and news sections
Fact- checked articles for print magazine
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AP Style
Multiplatform editing
Newsletter writing and management
Proficinecy in email marketing software (MailChimp and Beehiiv)
Canva
Proficient in basic HTML
Google Suite (Docs, Slides, Sheets)
Fact-checking
Interviewing/Source building
Audience research
Product thinking
Content creation (TikTok, Facebook, X, and Instagram)
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Rising Star Award, Friends of The Daily Texan - 2023 Recipient
Linguistic Society of America's Linguistic Journalism Award - 2021 Recipient
Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism - 2023 Fellow
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University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Journalism with a Business Minor, and Certificate in Public Policy
Moody College of Communication | McCombs School of Business
August 2016-May 2020