Meet Virginia
Virginia Isaad
Lead Editor, HipLatina.com
TL;DR: Latina journalist focused on lifestyle and culture content for women with experience editing, copy writing, and social media management. Current lead editor at HipLatina.
Full Bio:
I’m a writer and editor focused on Latinx content with pieces published on HipLatina, Bustle, Mitu, Remezcla and Yahoo. After nearly a decade writing for a multitude of publications and evolving with an industry that’s ever-changing in the 21st century, I know the value in being a versatile writer that engages readers. I’ve worked as a freelance journalist for the better part of my career — in between full time jobs as a reporter for El Paso Times and assistant editor at Gayot — so I’ve had to stay connected with what readers want. I’ve been able to use this skill to not only pitch relevant stories but as a trending news writer that keeps up with relevant and timely new stories.
In addition to my recent bylines, my work has also appeared on RYOT, Elite Daily, HelloGiggles, Upworthy, Jewish Journal, We Like L.A., Angeleno and Los Angeles magazine. I’ve also worked as a freelance editor primarily for HowStuffWorks where I revised and updated their quizzes to be more SEO-friendly and improved the overall UX. Since Dec. 2020 I’ve been the lead editor for HipLatina.com, one of the leading digital publications for and by Latinas in the U.S. I also manage the social media content primarily on Instagram and Facebook and work with the branded content team.
I was born in Argentina and raised in the San Fernando Valley and like a true Valley girl I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degree from Calif. State University, Northridge. With degrees in English literature and mass communication I’ve been able to combine my passion for books and journalism into opportunities to highlight the work of Latinx authors which doesn’t get enough mainstream coverage. As the first in my family to go to college in the U.S. I navigated higher education mostly on my own and I’ve always had to forge my own path in my career as well. Through HipLatina, I am able to tell stories for women like myself and and grow a team of diverse Latinas to showcase the different identities that make up Latinas in the United States.
Resume
Lead Editor - HipLatina.com - Dec. 2020 - Present
I manage editorial content for HipLatina.com and social media content for Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I created and launched the “Digame” questionnaire series featuring prominent Latinas in various industries. I also created and launched the “Latina Leaders” and “Poderosas Paving the Way” graphic series on Instagram and host a weekly IG Live chat, Charlas with HL featuring Isabel Allende, Julissa Arce, Yesika Salgado, and Julissa Calderon.
Contributing Writer/Trending News Writer for Latinx Pubs - Nov. 2017 – Dec. 2020
I write lifestyle/culture features and curate slideshows and contribute daily trending stories relevant to the Latinx community for HipLatina, Remezcla, and Mitu. I work out of Wordpress adding SEO and social media as well as images to all my articles.
• My HipLatina features on Latina businesses like Viva La Bonita and Luna Magic have directly helped double HipLatina’s social media following on social media.
I helped launch the Latina Reads series on Mitu’s “Fierce” section highlighting established Latina writers from different countries in Latin America. The series also features Q & As with contemporary Latina authors including Yesika Salgado, Tehlor Kay Mejia, and Elizabeth Acevedo.
• The popularity of the series has directly affected the growth of their social media following on Twitter by about 50 percent.
Play.howstuffworks.com– Freelance Editor – Nov. 2018 – June 2019
I edited and fact checked quizzes covering topics including entertainment, health, relationships, and trivia, and made them more SEO-friendly and relevant to the targeted demo from Boomers to Gen Z, depending on the vertical.
• I revamped their older, more popular content to improve the UX and make it more relevant.
Gayot.com - Assistant Editor - Dec.2016 - Nov. 2017
I built content daily for verticals including travel, food, and health editing using SEO best practices. I increased readership through trending listicles and improved engagement on social media with targeted posts and giveaways. I also conceptualized and executed ideas for lists, wrote and edited copy and selected and edited photos.
I worked with freelancers, editing content in all our verticals and discussing story ideas our readers engaged with the most to increase our monthly views.
Welikela.com – Contributor/ News Writer – March 2015 – Jan. 2017
I wrote blog posts and listicles on food, culture, city life, and local events including themed restaurant lists and L.A. travel guides. I worked out of Wordpress as their news writer focused on city-based stories.
• My posts contributed to the increase in readership and social media followers by more than 50 percent with several of my restaurant lists reaching thousands of views.