Nick Basaraba
Portland, Oregon | (970) 308-5244 | basaraban@gmail.com | nickbasaraba.com |
Summary
Conservation Communications covering outdoors recreation and river conservation for magazines, online publications, and fly fishing lodge blogs. Interviewed community stakeholders and conservation project leaders to advocate for conservation initiatives by Trout Unlimited and CalTrout. Photographed and interviewed tribal members to understand complex river issues in western Washington. Analyzed SEO for targeted blog postings for outdoor tourism companies focusing on guided fly fishing in Texas and Alaska, and NRS rafting.
Technical Toolkit
· Photography Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop
· SEO Optimization WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Google Analytics
· Storytelling research, interviews, writing, proofreading, photography
Professional Experience
Pacific Rivers 2024-Current
Documented partnership initiatives through intern, freelance, and volunteer work on river conservation projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. Developed a new interactive webpage highlighting past and current river designations under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to be used for future legislation.
· Freelance writing pieces and editing on Free Flow magazine including photography and design
· Participated in documenting Chehalis River dam construction opposition with Chehalis tribal members through photography and interviews
· Created interactive website designed to promote protection of Oregon’s watersheds through the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and River Democracy Act
Freelance Writer 2019-Current
Collaborated with editors and photo editors of The Fly Fish Journal and The Drake magazines on creative and journalistic-style pieces for publication. Story published in 2024 Winter issue of The Fly Fish Journal covered the designation of a new National Monument in northern California. Created long-form blog posts with a focus on SEO to increase website vistors.
· Researched complicated conservation issues and used in-person interviews with community stakeholders to create informative stories to drive conservation initiatives, most involving the designation of Sattitla National Monument in northern California
· Collaborated with editors, photo editors, and publishers to achieve goals for written pieces
· Communicated with lodge owners on organized schedules on blog postings to boost website SEO performance and audience engagement
Education
Colorado State University - Journalism and Media Communications, Minor in Global and Environmental Sustainability – Graduation Spring 2026
Interests
Outdoor pursuits ranging from fly fishing, rafting, biking, hiking, and backpacking. I also read and study past and current conservation challenges in the Pacific Northwest from all perspectives: tribal, recreation, commercial fishing, habitat restoration and management, and endangered species. A typical weekend is spent on a river, near the ocean, or in the forests and deserts of Oregon and Washington.