Chris R. Vaccaro

Print/Digital Media Experience

• Senior Sports Editor: The Topps Company, 04/12-Current … Position involves editing/producing content for web platforms and handling social media for one of the most well-known companies in sports.
• Professor: Hofstra University, 09/10-Current … Taught news writing and reporting and now journalism tools (digital media) at Long Island’s No. 1 private university.
• Editor: AOL (Patch.com), 11/09-03/12 … Serves as Regional Sports Editor of Patch.com’s Long Island editorial operations, and as editor of Sachem Patch in Suffolk County, Long Island. Also chairs the national Patch Sports Strategy Committee.
• Reporter: Smithtown News, 12/08-2/09 … Government, politics and news reporter for weekly paper in Suffolk County.
• Online Producer: NY Daily News, 03/08-11/08 … Produced content for sports, national news and politics pages of NYDailyNews.com. Managed web content, posted breaking news, created photo galleries and worked on enterprise multimedia features.
• Reporter: Southampton Press, 11/07-03/08 … Functioned as a sports reporter and photographer for the Eastern, Long Island Press News Group.
• Interactive Producer (intern): Newsday, 06/06-08/06
• Regional Editor: LI Ultimate Athlete, 08/05-02/07
• Sports Editor: Hofstra Chronicle, 05/05-05/07

Broadcast Experience/Interviews

• Host of “The Sachem News Hour” on 91.9-FM, WSHR, 2012-Current
• Interviewed by MSG Varsity during Sachem-Connetquot game about Sachem communications and pride, 2012
• Interviews by “MLB Inside the Numbers” on Fan vs Fan Blog Talk Radio, 2012
• Interviewed by 88.7 FM-WRHU during Hofstra men’s hoops game, 2012
• Interviewed by WLNY TV-10/55 about book, “Hofstra Athletics,” 2012
• Interviewed by 88.7 FM-WRHU “Inside the Locker Room” about book, “Hofstra Athletics,” 2012
• Interviewed by 91.9 FM-WSHR during football game broadcast, 2011
• Filmed commercial for Hofstra University about history book release, 2011
• Filmed in “Crooked Arrows” lacrosse film, 2011
• Interviewed by CBS Evening News (Russ Mitchell), 2010
• Interviewed by Howard 100 News (Howard Stern Show), 2010
• Coordinating Producer (free-lance): MSG Varsity TV, 2009
• Interviewed by MSG Varsity on “Sports Rush” for book marketing, 09/09
• Interviewed by MSG for book marketing, 11/08
• Radio Show Host: LI Ultimate Athlete Radio (98.5 FM), 08/06-12/06
• TV Correspondent: LI Ultimate Athlete via Telecare, 05/06-12/06
• Radio Show Host, Play-by-Play: Sachem Radio (91.9 FM), 10/03-12/07

Contributing writer

• On the Sidelines, NYS Football Coaches Association, 2010-Current
• Inside Lacrosse, Lacrosse Magazine (CAA and AEC columnist 2010), 05/06-Current

Books

• “Hofstra Athletics,” (Arcadia’s Images of Sports Series, 2012)
• “Bellport Football, A Proud Tradition,” (Xlibris, 2009)
• “Long Island High School Sports,” (Arcadia’s Images of Sports Series, 2009)
• “Sachem High School Football: The History of the Flaming Arrows,” (Xlibris, 2008)
• “The Dynasties: Long Island High School Football,” (Xlibris, 2007)

Published in (words, photos, videos)

-Topps, Associated Press (Yahoo Sports, and others), AOL, Patch.com, Huffington Post, ESPN, NY Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, St. Petersburg Times, Newsday, Toronto Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), New York Observer, Australian Baseball Digest, Australian Baseball Federation, Elmira Star Gazette (Gannett News), Fox, NCAA.com, Inside Lacrosse, Lacrosse Magazine, Rugby Magazine, Road Bike Action Magazine, DigitalMediaBuzz.com, GoVolsExtra.com, Patriot Cup Lacrosse tournament program (Dallas, TX), Holbrook Gazette, Sayville Gazette, Bayport-Blue Point Gazette, Gotham Baseball, Long Island Pulse, Hofstra Chronicle, Hofstra Pulse, World Sports Blogs, Amityville Record, Massapequa Post, Babylon Beacon, Queens Chronicle, Queens Courier, Southampton Press East and West, East Hampton Press, Press of Manorville and Moriches, Northport Observer, Baseball America, Northshore Sun, Islip News, Commack News, Mid-Island News, News-Review, Rise Magazine, Fire Rescue Magazine, Times Review, Nassau News, Sachem.edu, MaxPreps.com, Varsity Networks, NY Sportscene, Sachem Harbringer, Long Island’s Ultimate Athlete, Huntington News, Long Island Football Championship Program (2009, 2010), SachemEastWrestling.com, PortWashington.Patch.com, Syosset.Patch.com, SachemNorthFootball.com, RayEnnersAwardWinners.com, Press Club of Long Island, Real Clear Sports (Islanders blog 2009), West Islip Patch, Merrick Patch, Massapequa Patch, Garden City Patch, Bellmore Patch, Glen Cove Patch, Huntington Patch, Sayville Patch, UltimateCheerleaders.com, Patchogue Patch, Sachem Central Teachers Association Scope Magazine, Smithtown Patch, Dix Hills Patch, Our Place Newspapers, Commack Patch, Hauppauge Patch, Bayport-Blue Point Patch, Three Village Patch, Riverhead Patch, Northport Patch, Port Jefferson Patch, Hampton Bays Patch, East Meadow Patch, Levittown Patch, Lynbrook Patch, Cranford Patch, Mineola Patch, LawPower.com, Babylon Patch, Northfork, East Hampton Patch, Elwood.k12.ny.us, Savage-Guilford Patch(Md.), Elliocott City Patch (Md.), Colesville Patch (Md.), Five Towns Patch, Sarasota Patch (Fla.), WeBeHipHop, Port Washington Patch (Wisc.), Skokie Patch (Ill.), Agoura Hills Patch (Calif.), Rocky Point Patch, Southampton Patch, Kings Park Patch, FanvsFan (TheHofstraPride.com), Solon Patch (Oh.), CreveCour Patch (Ms.), Maryland Heghts Patch (Ms.), Cascade Patch (Ga.), Ballwin Patch (Ms.), Waukesha Patch (Wisc), Suwanee Patch (Ga.), Manassas Patch (Va.), Encino Patch (Ca.), Venice Patch (Ca.), Decatur Patch (Ga.), Alpharetta Patch (Ga.), Johns Creek Patch (Ga.), Mentor Patch (Oh.), Woodstock Patch (Ga.), East Cobb Patch (Ga.), Stone Mountain Patch (Ga.), Tucker Patch (Ga.), Cleveland Heights (Oh.), Florissant Patch (Ms.), Bellevue Patch (Wash.), Southbury Patch (Ct.), Woodbury-Middlebury Patch (Ct.), New Hyde Park Patch (N.Y.), Mountainview (CA), Madison (CT), Groton (CT), Stonington-Mystic (CT), Montville (CT), Douglaston (NY), Clinton Patch (CT), Cumming (GA), Mountain Park (GA), Little Silver-Oceanport (NJ), Holbrook Happenings, Danvers Patch (Mass.), Bed-Stuy Patch (N.Y.), Carroll Gardens Patch (N.Y.), Fort Greene-Clinton Hill Patch (N.Y.), PhillyLacrosse.com, LILacrosseNews.com, Nor’Easter 2011 football program (Sachem North vs. Sachem East), Wentzville Patch (Missouri), New Brunswick Patch (NJ), South Brunswick Patch (NJ), Wyckoff Patch (NJ), Oak Creek Patch (Wisconsin), Andover Patch (Massachusetts), Oak Lawn Patch (Illinois), Tredyffrin Patch (Pennsylvania), San Mateo Patch (California), Redwood City Patch (California), Farmington Patch (CT), Avon Patch (CT), New Lenox Patch (Illinois), Diamond Bar Patch (California), Ridgewood Patch (New Jersey), Scotch Plains Patch (NJ), Lawrenceville Patch (NJ), Forrest Hills Patch (Pennsylvania), Chesterfield Patch (Missouri), Middletown Patch (CT), Twinsburg Patch (OH), Hasbrook Heights Patch (NJ), Westwood Patch (NJ), Berkely Patch (NJ), Suffield Patch (CT), Wrentham Patch (Mass.), Mahwah Patch (NJ), South Orange Patch (NJ), Livingston Patch (NJ), East Windsor (NJ), Canton Patch (NJ), River Dell Patch (NJ), Naugatuck Patch (NJ), Cranford Patch (NJ), Toms River Patch (NJ), Southington Patch (CT), Southbury Patch (CT), Bridgewater Patch (NJ), Princeton Patch (NJ), Teaneck Patch (NJ), Easthampton Patch (CT), Hoboken Patch (NJ), Little Shore Patch (NJ), Marlboro Patch (NJ), Newark Patch (NJ), Point Pleasant Patch (NJ), Red Bank Patch (NJ), Westfield Patch (NJ), RoseBrucia.org, MariaMichta.com, Brookhaven National Lab

Big Events Covered

• NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA
• NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Quarterfinals 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
• 2009 U.S. Open Golf (Bethpage Black)
• 2011 Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh
• 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Sweet 16 and Elite 8 (Newark, N.J.)
• 2011 Big City Classic (Meadowlands)
• 2011 NFL Draft (Radio City)
• 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship (Stony Brook University)
• 2011 MLB Draft 2011 (MLB Studios, Secaucus)
• 2011 Belmont Stakes
• 2011 NCAA Division I FCS first round (Stony Brook University)
• 2011 Heisman Trophy Presentation (NYC)
• 2011 New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers vs. Iowa State (Yankee Stadium)
• 2012 Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots (Indianapolis)
• 2012 Big City Classic (Meadowlands)
• 2012 NFL Draft, Radio City
• 2012 College Football Hall of Fame inductee announcement
• 2012 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Semifinals and Championship
• 2012 MLB Draft
• 2012, Baseball Hall of Fame Classic (Cooperstown)
• 2012, Society of American Baseball Research conference (Minneapolis)
• 2012, MLB All-Star Game (HR Derby, Futures Game, Celeb Softball and actual ASG) (Kansas City)
• 2012, MLB Fan Cave
• 2012, Baseball Hall of Fame Induction: Barry Larkin and Ron Santo (Cooperstown)
• 2012, Summer Olympics (London
• 2013, Metropolitan Lacrosse Classic (Citi Field)
• 2013, Tribeca Film Festival
• 2013, NHL Playoffs, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Other work

Research/random projects

• Supplied images of Jumbo Elliott for “100 Yards of Glory,” book/dvd by Bob Costas and Joe Garner, 2011
• MariaMichta.com website creation, 2011 (Olympic campaign)
• Bill Goldberg bio edit/creation, 2011
• Applebees photo collage research local history images, 2011 (historical research)
• WeBeHipHop.com website management, 2011 (content maintenance)
• Sachem East Softball website administrator, 2011
• BryanVaccaro.com recruiting website management, 2010 (recruiting website)
• RayEnnersAwardWinners.com website management, 2010 (historical website)
• Sachem High School Football weekly historical analysis, 2009-Present
• Bishop McGann-Mercy High School sports history research, 2008 (research project)

Social Media Initiatives

• Current Twitter handles: @ChrisVaccaro, @PCLI, @ToppsCards, @ToppsPennant, @RayEnnersAward, @ToppsBUNTCast, @ToppsHUDDLE, @SachemSchools, @SachemReport
• Previous Twitter handles: @SachemPatch
• Facebook: Chris R. Vaccaro, PCLI, ToppsCards, Topps Pennant, Topps BUNT, Sachem Schools, Topps HUDDLE

Book signings

• Hofstra University Mack Sports Complex, 2012
• Borders Books (Riverhead), 2010
• Costco (Holbrook), 2010
• Barnes and Noble (Manhasset), 2010
• The Book Revue (Huntington), 2009
• Borders (Syosset), 2009
• Walden Books (Huntington Station), 2009
• Borders (Riverhead), 2009
• Costco (Holbrook), 2009

Speeches/Panel discussions/Appearances

• Sequoya Middle School Career Day, 2013
• Suffolk HOF inductees announcement at Sachem BOE, 2013
• Sachem Schools communications platforms PTA, 2012
• Sachem Schools communications platforms BOE, 2012
• Hofstra social media workshop, 2012
• Hofstra Admitted Students Day, 2012
• Hofstra PRSSA Conference, 2012
• (Host/Moderator) PCLI: Building exposure through social media, 2012
• Fair Media Council Social Media Boot Camp, 2011
• Hofstra University alumni committee mock interview sessions, 2011
• NYC College Media Convention, 2011
• Holbrook Chamber of Commerce, 2011
• The Greens Community/Half Hollow Hills Library, 2011
• Fair Media Council Seminar, 2010
• Patch Grassroots Conference – Chicago/New York, 2010
• Holtsville Civic Association, 2010
• Social Media Camp Long Island (Patchogue, St. Joe’s), 2010
• Conversations at Landmark (Port Washington), future of media panel, 2010
• Hofstra University, free-lance writer panel, 2010
• Stony Brook University, digital media class, 2010
• PCLI/Hofstra University … social media ethics panel, 2010
• Sachem High School North broadcast journalism class, 2010
• Hofstra University copy editing class, 2009 and 2010
• Hofstra University School of Communication alumni panel, 2009
• Sachem High Schools North and East print journalism and marketing classes, 2005-Current

Seminars/lectures/conferences attended

• Sports Business Journal Social Media & Sports Series, 2012 (NYC)
• Society of American Baseball Research conference, 2012 (Minneapolis)
• SPJ Region 1 Conference (Stony Brook), 2012 (Conference Committee, Student Advisor)
• Woodward & Bernstein #Watergate40 (Hofstra), 2012
• SPJ National in New Orleans, 2011
• SCPD Media Relations Lecture by FBI National Academy Rep., 2011
• Police and the Press (PCLI), 2011
• 140 Conference (twitter) Long Island, 2011
• Hofstra Chronicle 75th Anniversary, 2011
• Time management for journalists (PCLI), 2011
• Fair Media Council Connection Day, 2010, 2011
• Social Media Camp LI, 2010
• Sustainable Long Island Conference (SLI), 2010
• Behind the media pay wall (PCLI), 2010
• Google Analytics (PCLI), 2010
• SPJ Region 1 Conference (Hofstra), 2007

Featured/Mentioned in

• Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame,
• Newsday (Neil Best’s Watch Dog Blog twice)
• Newsday.com People on the Move
• Long Island Business News
• News 12
• MSG Varsity
• Floral Park Dispatch
• Massapequa Post
• Amityville Record
• Babylon Beacon
• Long Island Press
• Long Island Sports Report
• Sachem Public Library
• South Country Library
• Sachem Football Annual Journal
• Bellport Football Annual Journal
• On the Sidelines: NYSHSFCA magazine
• Boomerang Baseball by Nicholas R.W. Henning,
• East Side View Sachem East School Paper
• Long Island Advance
• Hofstra Chronicle
• Brandeis University research report on concussions in sports
• SUNY Cortland research report on sports management
• AOL Today News
• Smithtown High School research report on future of journalism
• Patch.com Patchwork site
• CBS Evening News
• Hofstra Journalism Class Report
• HerCampus.com
• TheMediaBriefing.com
• UNC Talking Biz News Blog
• News on News Blog
• NYSUT Blog
• Orange Fizz Syracuse Blog
• Nick Henning’s “Aussies in the Majors” book

Other employment

• Circuit City television salesman, 09/03-10/07
• SYAG Umpire, 04/00-07/02

Education

• SUNY Stony Brook: Stony Brook, N.Y./ MA Public Policy 08/09-05/11 (Master’s Thesis: 1) Federal regulation of digital media and 2) Media coverage of health care reform)
• Hofstra University: Hempstead, N.Y./ BA Journalism/Public Affairs 09/04-12/07
• Sachem High School: Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y. 09/00-06/04

Organizations

• Lamba Pi Eta National Communication Honor Society, 11/06-Current
• Society of Professional Journalists/ Press Club of Long Island, 10/05-Current (Board member as of 06/11)
• PCLI Social Media Manager and Membership Committee, 2010
• Steering Committee, Hofstra School of Communication 75th Anniversary, 2010
• Holbrook Chamber of Commerce, 03/10-Current (Newsletter committee as of 2011)
• Holtsville Civic Association, 07/10-Current
• Sachem Central School District Athletics Hall of Fame Committee, 2010-Current
• Rose Bruce Educational Foundation Golf Committee, 12/10-Current
• Long Island Photo Walk, 02/11-Current
• Hofstra University School of Communication Alumni Association Steering Committee, 05/11-Current
• Associated Press Sports Editors, 2011-Current
• Verified journalist on MuckRuck.com, 2011
• National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, 2012-Current
• Society of American Baseball Research, 2012-Current
• American Association of University Professors (Hofstra Chapter), 2012-Current

Miscellaneous

• Computer skills: Adobe In-Copy, Photoshop and In-Design, Hermes, Homesite, Assembler, HTML, XML, CMS, Photo Editor and MAC OS software (all editing tools)
• Language skills: Conversational abilities in Spanish

Awards/Honors

• Topps All-Star Award, 2013
• Suffolk County High School Wrestling Coaches Association News Person of the Year, 2012
• First Place, PCLI Online Deadline News … story about Sachem alums affected by Japanese quake (2012)
• First Place, PCLI Online Best Headline … “Unhappy Ending for Massage Parlor” (2012)
• Third Place, PCLI Online Deadline News … story about Sachem teachers united in Albany (2012)
• Named one of the top five Long Island sportswriters on Twitter by Yahoo, 2012
• First Place, PCLI Online Feature  … story about Sal Governale (2011)
• Second Place, PCLI Online Feature … story about Holbrook train crash (2011)
• Second Place, PCLI Online News Blog … Inside the Arrows blog (2011)
• Second Place, PCLI Online Sports Feature … Jumbo Elliott profile (2011)
• Fair Media Council: New Media Innovator – Patch.com (2011)
• Suffolk County High School Wrestling Coaches Association News Person of the Year, 2011
• John W. Niski Community Service Award (Sachem TD Club), 2010
• Suffolk County High School Football Coaches Association Media Award, 2010
• Patch.com Long Island Local Editor of the Week, 11/24/10 … won for extensive coverage of the Suffolk County Division I football championship
• Patch.com Suffolk County Local Editor of the Week, 11/17/10 … won for writing a four-part series about U.S. Marines veteran Keith Zeier
• Patch Analytics Stat of the Week, 9/9/10 … Sachem Patch has more Facebook and Twitter followers than any other site in the nation (800+)
• Third place, PCLI Magazine News Feature (NY’s Fight for MMA – LI Pulse), 2010
• Patch.com Social Media Award, March 2010
• First place, Newsday’s School Journalism Awards, 2007
• Suffolk County High School Football Coaches Association Media Award, 2006

Interests

• Hunter S. Thompson, Howard Stern, Wiffle ball, Bobble heads