Rebecca Theim is an award-winning journalist, philanthropist, and public speaker renowned for her gift as a writer and her work with charity. Growing up in Huntsville, Alabama, Theim was eager to investigate hard-hitting stories. Her fascination with social issues and aptitude for writing helped her to build a successful career as a print journalist, during which she worked with many different publications, including the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
While earning her bachelor of arts in journalism from Northwestern University, Theim interned at several newspapers and magazines, including the Seattle (WA) Post-Intelligencer and Today’s Chicago Woman. Upon graduating, Theim relocated to Florida to work for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Several years later, she moved to New Orleans. Theim fell in love with the vibrant activity of the Big Easy and became a prominent investigative journalist at the beloved and long-running New Orleans Times-Picayune. During that time, Theim took a leave of absence to earn her master’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University before returning to the paper. Theim’s hard work, perseverance, and knack for writing were rewarded when she was one of eight journalists selected for the prestigious Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism.
Theim returned to Northwestern University to earn a second master’s degree in international marketing communications and left journalism for a corporate career. She works as a writer for R&R Partners, the advertising agency behind the “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” campaign. For her work in business communications, she won the Silver Quill Award in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and the Gold Quill Award in 2005.
When the Times-Picayune reduced its circulation to three days a week, cutting employee wages and laying off staff, Theim knew she had to help her former coworkers. To assist the newly unemployed journalists, she founded dashTHIRTYdash, an organization that provides financial assistance to former Times-Picayune employees. She is passionate about the need for print journalism in an increasingly digital world and has won many awards for her work with dashTHIRTYdash, including PR News’ Nonprofit PR Award and the Community Involvement Award from the R&R Partners Foundation.
Theim lives in Henderson, Nevada, with her family. |