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Hi, I'm Judith Ruiz Branch, an award-winning journalist and dedicated communications leader with more than a decade of experience in breaking news, media relations, and strategic messaging. I specialize in producing compelling, multimedia narratives, managing communications strategies, and building stakeholder trust to drive visibility and engagement across broadcast, digital, and public platforms. Based in Chicago, I have led external affairs, media relations, and crisis communications for newsrooms, government agencies, and health plans, consistently delivering timely messaging and expanding audience reach.…Hi, I'm Judith Ruiz Branch, an award-winning journalist and dedicated communications leader with more than a decade of experience in breaking news, media relations, and strategic messaging. I specialize in producing compelling, multimedia narratives, managing communications strategies, and building stakeholder trust to drive visibility and engagement across broadcast, digital, and public platforms. Based in Chicago, I have led external affairs, media relations, and crisis communications for newsrooms, government agencies, and health plans, consistently delivering timely messaging and expanding audience reach.

Judith Ruiz Branch

Writer, Content Producer, Video Editor, +2

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Hi, I'm Judith Ruiz Branch, an award-winning journalist and dedicated communications leader with more than a decade of experience in breaking news, media relations, and strategic messaging. I specialize in producing compelling, multimedia narratives, managing communications strategies, and building stakeholder trust to drive visibility and engagement across broadcast, digital, and public platforms. Based in Chicago, I have led external affairs, media relations, and crisis communications for newsrooms, government agencies, and health plans, consistently delivering timely messaging and expanding audience reach.…Hi, I'm Judith Ruiz Branch, an award-winning journalist and dedicated communications leader with more than a decade of experience in breaking news, media relations, and strategic messaging. I specialize in producing compelling, multimedia narratives, managing communications strategies, and building stakeholder trust to drive visibility and engagement across broadcast, digital, and public platforms. Based in Chicago, I have led external affairs, media relations, and crisis communications for newsrooms, government agencies, and health plans, consistently delivering timely messaging and expanding audience reach.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Judith Ruiz Branch, an award-winning journalist and dedicated communications leader with more than a decade of experience in breaking news, media relations, and strategic messaging. I specialize in producing compelling, multimedia narratives, managing communications strategies, and building stakeholder trust to drive visibility and engagement across broadcast, digital, and public platforms.

Based in Chicago, I have led external affairs, media relations, and crisis communications for newsrooms, government agencies, and health plans, consistently delivering timely messaging and expanding audience reach.

Skills

Copywriting

Podcast Production

Experience Level

Copywriting

Expert

Podcast Production

Expert

Language

Spanish; Castilian

Advanced

Work Experience

Senior Reporter/Producer at Public News Service

October 1, 2024 - Present

Write, edit, voice and produce daily solutions-focused public interest radio stories covering multiple states, reporting on environmental, legal, social justice, immigration, political, criminal justice, energy policy and federal/state budget issues; consistently garners an average audience reach of near 1 million listeners.

Media Relations Officer at Illinois Department of Health Care and Family Services

November 1, 2023 - April 30, 2024

Served as the department’s primary media contact delivering timely, accurate messaging aligned with departmental goals; improved response times by 50%; drafted and managed press releases, media materials, and events; led and managed crisis communications and media training to uphold and improve organizational reputation.

Director of External Affairs at Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans

September 1, 2021 - October 31, 2023

Over a wall-to-wall communications strategy including media relations, marketing, social media, and stakeholder and member relations; increased media coverage by 300% through targeted strategies; innovated internal processes, systems, and external-facing reports; established and upheld key partnerships to expand brand reach and thought leadership, and increase stakeholder engagement and outreach.

Senior Account Executive at The Gemini Group

January 1, 2019 - August 31, 2021

Directed strategic communications and community relations efforts for a variety of high-profile accounts, maximizing effective storytelling and messaging while consistently increasing media placement and stakeholder and community engagement by at least 50%.

Director of External Affairs at Tri-State Public Media, Chicago Tribune, Crain Communications, Rivet Radio, WBEZ Chicago Public Media, WGN-TV

January 1, 2012 - September 30, 2021

Wrote, reported, produced and anchored award-winning stories, including bilingual content, across broadcast and digital platforms earning Edward R. Murrow and SABEW awards.