Here is an overview of my academic and professional background. You can also find more information from my social media profiles such as LinkedIn via my Where You Can Find Me page. For my full writing history, you can view my Online Writing Portfolio page.
Jacob Benge
inbox@JacobBenge.com
Education
The Ohio State University — Columbus, OH | Graduated May 7, 2023
- Graduated cum laude.
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs Journalism.
- Bachelor’s degree in Communication Analysis and Engagement.
- Minors in Media Production and Analysis and History.
- Wrote for The Lantern, the student newspaper, all four years.
- Teacher’s assistant for six semesters; five with COMM 3403 Sports Journalism and one with EXP 1500 Tech for Success.
- Member of Sports and Society Initiative; treasurer during 2021-23 academic years.
- Member of Scarlet and Gray Sports Radio, the official student radio network of The Ohio State University Athletics.
Fairborn High School — Fairborn, OH | Graduated May 24, 2019
- Diploma with honors.
- Perfect attendance from 7-12 grades.
- Baseball varsity letterman from 2018-19.
- Member of the 2019 Greater Western Ohio Conference South Division champions.
- 2019 All-Conference Special Mention.
- 2018 Skyhawk Award recipient.
- Yearbook editor from 2017-19.
- Member of Student Congress from 2017-19.
- Member of Air Force Junior ROTC from 2015-17.
Experience
AIM Media Midwest — September 2025 to present.
- Portfolio link
- Credentialed reporter on assignment for the Beavercreek News-Current, Fairborn Daily Herald and Xenia Gazette.
Cox First Media — March 2025 to present.
- Portfolio link
- Credentialed freelancer on assignment for the Dayton Daily News and Springfield News-Sun.
Spectrum News 1 — March 2024 to present.
- Portfolio link
- Credentialed freelancer assigned to cover the Ohio High School Football State Championships: Dec. 4-6, 2025.
- Credentialed freelancer assigned to cover the Ohio High School Boys and Girls State Basketball Tournament: March 14-17, 2025.
- Credentialed freelancer assigned to cover the Ohio High School Football State Championships: Dec. 5-7, 2024.
- Credentialed freelancer assigned to cover the Ohio High School Boys and Girls State Basketball Tournament: March 14-16, 2024, and March 22-24, 2024.
The Associated Press — August 2021 to present.
- Portfolio link
- Credentialed stringer/writer on assignment.
- Covered sports in Ohio including Ohio State football and basketball.
- Researched, reported on and interviewed relevant and newsworthy topics and subjects.
- Transcribed audio to convert from audio to text format.
The Southern Ohio PGA — September-October 2023
- Portfolio link
- Credentialed freelancer assigned to cover the Ohio Cup.
Rivals — May 2022-August 2022; May 2020-April 2021
Contributor — May 2022-August 2022
- Scarlet and Gray Report
Intern — May 2020-April 2021
- BuckeyeGrove
Guardians Baseball Insider — April-October 2021
- Portfolio link
- Credentialed co-beat writer covering the Columbus Clippers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.
- Interviewed coaches and players; transcribed audio.
- Wrote game reports and weekly notebooks after ballgames attended.
The Lantern — August 2019-April 2023
Sports Editor — May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023
Assistant Sports Editor — May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022
Freelance sports reporter — August 2019 to April 2021
- Portfolio link
- Oversaw The Lantern’s Sports desk during the 2022-23 academic year.
- Researched recent events and relevant history of Ohio State sports to prepare story pitches.
- Attended practices and games; interviewed athletes, coaches and officials.
- Served as the beat writer covering the Ohio State softball team in Spring 2021.