Working in a small but vibrant newsroom serving the Gallatin, Madison, Jefferson and Paradise valley's in southwest Montana, Ben Pierce has developed a broad range of skills to meet the demands of daily deadlines in the evolving world of print and online media. Ben's career began with the Bozeman Daily Chronicle as a sportswriter where he acquired the skills to compose accurate and engaging stories on tight deadlines. His desire to relate those stories through multiple forms of media and his passion for creating compelling images led to his success as a photographer. Capable of producing award-winning stories and photographs, Ben next tackled layout, first designing pages with QuarkXPress 4.1 and later Adobe InDesign CS3.

Recognizing the changing world of media and the impact of the Internet, Ben has developed new skills to create interactive-multimedia presentations. Drawing on traditional communication forms and adapting those skills to meet the demands of new media, Ben has launched a number of Web sites and online projects using Adobe Flash CS3 and Adobe Dreamweaver CS3. These new forms of media present an innovation in the way journalism is presented and Ben is committed to producing engaging work through these technological advancements.

Having established an extensive knowledge of communications, journalism and media techniques, Ben took on the role of editor to mentor new journalists, helping them become better storytellers. He remains a regular contributor in all aspects of the newsroom while constantly on the lookout for fresh ideas, stories and images that capture the attention of the community.

Perhaps his most valuable skill, however, is his desire to pursue new knowledge, overcome challenges and work together with others to achieve success.