This document contains Melissa Bajka's resume and two writing samples. The resume lists her contact information and outlines her organizational skills, determination, and motivation.
The first writing sample is a broadcast script for a news story about a jury deliberating on the trial of Christopher Monfort, who is accused of killing a police officer.
The second writing sample is a news article about the impact of raising Seattle's minimum wage to $15 per hour. It discusses the perspectives of a small business owner and a waitress who rely on tips as income and have mixed views on the effects of the increase.
Beginners Guide to TikTok for Search - Rachel Pearson - We are Tilt __ Bright...
Fight for $15 Wage Raises Concerns for Small Businesses
1. Melissa Bajka
1630 S. VerdeSt Tacoma, WA 98405
Phone: 650-380-1028 E-Mail:melissabajka@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melissabajka
Summary
My bestassets are my organizationskills, determination, andmotivation. Icanneverjust settle withwhat I have now. Iam always
lookingforways to improvemy situations andmyself. Inafastpace and ever-changing worldI striveto keep up.
Writing Samples
Broadcast Script 2015
TCOM 275:News and Media Writing
Teaser:
Tonighton the Kron 4 eveningnews...
Jurors are currently deliberating the trial of accusedcop-killerChristopherMonfort. Monfortis accusedof five
different felonies includingaggravatedfirst-degree murder, firstdegree arson, attempted first degree murder, and two additional
counts of for attempted firstdegree murder.
Thestory tonight on the evening news…
Lead-In:
Today, jurors are still deliberatingon whether the status of the Monforttrial. Monfort has been accusedof a bombattack on
policevehicles andthelater killingof Seattle policeOfficer, Timothy Brenton. Monfortcouldfacethedeath penalty. Jennifer
Andersonhas moreof the story foryounext.
Story:
OnHalloweennight 2009, OfficerTimothy Brentonof the Seattle policedepartment was killed. ChristopherMonforthas
been accusedof stalkingand fatally ambushingthe officeras part of a larger plotto kill police.
Ninedays prior to the death of OfficerBrenton, Monfortallegedly set fireand detonated pipe bombs thatdestroyed
numerous policevehicles atthecity’s Charles Street maintenance yard. Monforthas been charged withfirstdegree arsonand
attempted firstdegree murder forthe Charles Street incident.
Monforthas also been charged with two additional counts of attempted firstdegree murder for allegedly attempting to kill
Brenton’s then-rookie partner, BrittKelly, andSgt. Gary Nelsonwho was investigatingBrenton’s homicideonNovember9th of 2009.
Thedefense argued that Monfortbelievedkillingpoliceofficerswouldputanend to policebrutality. Monforthas pleaded
not guilty by reasonof insanity to all fivefelony charges. If there is a penalty phase, jurors will heartestimony before decidingif there
2. 2
are sufficientmitigatingfactors to warrant leniency of lifeinprisonwithoutthe possibility of release. Jurors mustvote unanimously
inorder to imposethe death penalty.
As the deliberation continues, wehere at Kron 4 news will bringyouupdates.
News Story 2015
TCOM 275:News and Media Writing
TheFight for $15Minimum Wage:What about the littleguys?
TACOMA, Wash. --OnJune2, 2014, Seattle City Council passedOrdinance124490unanimously statingthat beginning inApril 2015
the minimum wageinSeattle will incrementally raisedto $15anhour. This will affectlargecorporations withmorethan 500
employees as well as the local businesses withlessthan500employees. Althoughonly currently affectingSeattle, the Fight for $15
will expandto soonreach other cities inthe Seattle area includingTacoma, Sumner, and GigHarbor affectingdifferent individuals
and businesses inthecommunity.
Starting April 2015 the minimum wagewill startits increasein Seattle. Corporations, any company withmorethan 500
employees, mustmeetthoseguidelines withinthree years. Small businesses, any company withlessthan500employees, haveseven
years to reach $15an hour. There will beagradual increasestarting April 2015 witha raiseto $11an hourthresholds. InJanuary
2016, and eachJanuary after that, wages rise until the three orsevenyears are met.
Guy Maughan, Co-Owner of My ClosetEnvy inSumner, Wash., has mixedfeelings aboutthe impending increase. Maughan
does not makemore than $15an hour, but he sees no advantage inraisingthe minimum wage. “Itwouldbe niceto makemorebut
money wouldbetaken away from other store goals whichisn’tworthit,” he said.
Another issueforMaughan is howthe campaigns are being conducted. “When Googlingourstore, I noticedthat ourname
and picture was being usedfor an organizationsupporting the increase. They posteda picture infront of our store witha signsaying
that wesupported it. We have no current standingon itbut this was donewithout our knowledgeor approval. Youcan clearly seein
the picture that the storeis not open,” saidMaughan.
Despitethe inaccurate representation, Maughan says thatit wouldbe possibleto makethe wage increases withthe proper
amount of time. He is currently revisinghis employee's currentwagein order to compensatethem fortheir current successes.He
plans on gradually increasingthe employee’s wageto closerto Seattle’s wages over the next 5 years. “If it were to happen in Sumner
on the sevenyear planphases, it wouldn’tbea big shock. Wewouldbehalfway there anyway with howwe giveraises to our
employees,” says Maughan.
3. 3
ChelseaSchott, waitress at the BlazingOnioninGigHarbor and mother of a three-year-old, currently makes minimum wage
and relies ontips to help supporther family. Hermainconcernis that the increaseto $15an hour wouldinfact hurt her in the long
run. Schott said, “Ithink that getting paid $15an hour will definitely makemy tips go down.” Herconcernis not whether or not it
wouldbe goodfor the company butwhether or not itwouldbe goodfor an employees who relies heavily ontips.
She worries that peoplewill feel less inclinedto tipthosewho rely on tips due to their higher wages. “Sure, getting paid $15
an hour sounds nice, butfor someonelikemewho only works aroundfourhours per shift, andwho counts ontops to pay my bil ls, it
wouldsuck. So many peoplethat comeoutto eat will feel thatthey do not need to tipup anymorebecause weget paidso much.
When inreality, peoplelikemeliveoff of our tips,” saidSchott.
Althoughthe minimum wagehas only beenraised to $15an hour, the fight for $15will rapidly expandto one day possibly
coverall of Washingtonstate.