Experience

Crosswords Communications Co. was founded in 2006 by Doris Bloodsworth, APR, an award-winning journalist and author. Her reporting was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and has appeared in national publications.

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Doris is a published author and was named Writer of the Year. She is nationally certified in public relations and was inducted into a regional hall of fame.

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Doris' journalism career includes major investigative reporting, and her public-relations work won a statewide award. Her communications experience includes assisting a wide range of business and nonprofit clients as well as full-time work in municipal government.

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Some career highlights include working on the PR team that launched LEGOLAND Florida®, earning more than a million impressions and securing a documentary for a Habitat Orlando Blitz Build and spearheading the Choice of Champions® branding for the City of Clermont. She has secured publishers for several writers. Crosswords partners with top graphic designers, illustrators, event planners and printers to provide full service.

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Here is a snapshot of her experience and professional achievements.

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EXPERIENCE - Communications

  • Communications Director and PIO for the City of Clermont, Florida

  • Communications and Marketing Director for the South Lake Chamber of Commerce

  • Media Relations and Research head for TWSquared PR and marketing firm, Orlando

  • Copy Writer and Project Manager for CRM2 marketing firm, Orlando

  • Crosswords Communications, Winter Park and Clermont

  • Taught writing at the Professional Golfers Career College, Orlando

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EXPERIENCE - Journalism

  • Growing Bolder magazine

  • Bloomberg

  • Orlando Sentinel

  • The Wall Street Journal

  • The Gainesville Sun

  • Articles also appeared in Central Florida Family magazine, Black Family Today magazine, 

       The Strategist magazine and Tactics newspaper, among other publications.

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EXPERIENCE - Author & Editor

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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

  • Reporting nominated for the Pulitzer Prize

  • Nationally-certified in Public Relations - APR

  • Hearst National Finalist

  • Best of 2020 Awards - Telecommunications

  • Society of Professional Journalists Award

  • Knight Fellow

  • Orlando Sentinel News-Gathering Award

  • Florida Bar Media Award

  • Lake County Women's Hall of Fame

  • Lake County Schools Hall of Fame

  • Communications Award for Public Relations - FACP

  • Writer of the Year and Historian of the Year

  • UF's Dean's Cup for Professional Promise

  • UF's Buddy Davis Award for Promise in Reporting & Editing

  • Key to the City - Clermont

  • Gem of the Hills Award for Outstanding Community Service

  • Cooper Memorial Library Association Board Member

  • Project Scholars committee member

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EDUCATION

  • Graduated with highest honors from the University of Florida's College of Journalism with a minor in English

  • Attended the University of Central Florida