Hi, I’m Aileen, a writer, editor and visual storyteller based in Chicago.
I have always been drawn to stories, in both reading and writing. I studied English and communication as an undergrad because I hoped to be where creativity was at the core of everything. My earliest jobs were in advertising, running scripts around and making commercials. It was fast-paced and exciting, though the constant exposure to experimenting with words and pictures made me think more and more about untold stories and how best to tell them. It also made me realize I wanted to write these stories myself, so I pivoted to grad school and became a journalist.
I’ve written news and features, and I’m particularly drawn to profiles, city culture, travel, introspection, and human-interest angles, among other things.
I also create websites and digital stories. For me, being able to blend journalism, technology and storytelling is a meaningful and energizing way to move through our visual world.
Currently, I write and edit across formats, from reported journalism to digital content. I also craft navigable online spaces that present stories beautifully.
Get in touch: leeniespace(at)gmail(dot)com Read my blog (though I update infrequently).
Aileen Cruz 