Sara Bauknecht
BIOGRAPHY
Sara Bauknecht is a multimedia producer, journalist, communication strategist, and educator. At Chatham University, Sara teaches journalism, public relations, communication theory, and special topics courses in social and digital media and advises the Communiqué, the University’s student-run media outlet.
Sara earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts, with minors in Creative Writing and Theatre, from Marymount Manhattan College, where she graduated as Valedictorian. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from Point Park University. She previously worked as the editorial assistant to the editor of Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes research in the fields of communication, journalism, and media studies education. She began her teaching career as an adjunct professor in 2012 at Point Park University, where she taught writing for the Web and multimedia. She’s also taught courses in multiplatform editing and foundational journalism at Duquesne University.
As an educator, Sara is passionate about sharing her versatile media experiences to help empower the next generation of multiplatform storytellers. Her classes strive to equip students with a toolkit of practical skills in writing, editing, and media strategy that are rooted in the fundamentals of media ethics and principles and theories of communication.
Outside the classroom, Sara’s professional career in media started in New York City with stints in TV production and publishing. She moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., in 2009 to join the staff of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. As a reporter, Sara specializes in arts and lifestyle coverage, with an emphasis on style, retail news, and dance criticism. She also worked for 10 years as a digital news editor for post-gazette.com and the newsroom's social media platforms. Also for post-gazette.com, she co-hosted and produced for six years a lifestyle Web show. Along the way, Sara worked as a graduate assistant in the Point Park University Innocence Institute, helping to mentor student journalists as they investigated and reported on claims of wrongful criminal convictions.
Sara also helps other businesses and entrepreneurs learn how to effectively tell their stories online as a digital media strategist and consultant. She's worked with clients in the fields of health and wellness, arts/culture, entertainment, and the nonprofit sector.
EDUCATION
- B.A., Marymount Manhattan College (New York, NY)
- M.A., Point Park University (Pittsburgh, PA)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- College Media Association
- Online News Association
- National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Mid-Atlantic region)
RECENT AWARDS
- Press Club of Western Pennsylvania Gold Quill Awards, finalist, 2021. CATEGORY: Profile writing
- Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards, nominee, 2017. CATEGORY: Best feature news story/series. NOMINATED WORK: "The American Dream", a multipart video series highlighting local immigrant entrepreneurs
- Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors Blog Writing Award, first place, 2015. CATEGORY: 75,000+ circulation category
- Press Club of Western Pennsylvania Golden Quill Awards, first place, 2015. CATEGORY: Arts & Entertainment writing