Josh Ewers
Features Writer/Reporter/Editor
Reaching the artist
While covering the arts in Nashville, I was afforded the opportunity to speak with creators representing myriad genres and mediums as they moved through a modern mecca of inspired talent.
Whether playing garages, storied rock clubs or The Grand Ole Opry, the inspirations, motivations, dreams, flaws and experiences each carried drove them toward highly original character along uniquely winding paths.
Since those days, I've loved walking for a few steps not only with artists as a chronicling writer, but all those with whom I'm lucky enough to share the sunlight — to unearth the elements of the soul essential to storytelling, to learn from them and to create gripping content centered on the hearts and minds that define our wandering search for connection.
Though in-depth interview features are where my passion primarily lies, my work in Nashville also entailed breaking news, observing the shifting dynamics of gentrification, covering community and national events, keeping up with a busy awards cycle, reviewing albums and concerts, writing columns and numerous other pursuits.
Prior to my time there, I was first honed as a journalist, photographer, page editor and man at a proud and principled family-owned county newspaper in Ohio that published a daily print edition. My five-plus years serving in that role granted me ample experience covering local government, crime and courts, education, business and more. I was further refined in similar fashion during a Swiss-Army-knife tenure at my hometown paper in Charleston, West Virginia.
Most recently, my time as a combo assistant features editor and Saturday morning editor (who still loves to write when time allows) in Pittsburgh has imparted me with an intense appreciation for the leadership, emotional intelligence, creativity, work ethic, organization and modern expertise in SEO required to become a well-trained muscle helping move forward a proud operation that produces phenomenal stories on a daily basis.
Beyond that, it's also reminded me how indebted I am to the many editors, colleagues and friends who have, along the way, helped me down my own unwinding road.
Profile selections from my Nashville, Charleston and Pittsburgh portfolios (as well as my resume) are available below. I welcome requests for additional clips in any beat or story archetype.
