Heather L. Whitley

Photo of Heather L. Whitley
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Location
Atlanta, GA
School
University Of Florida
Expertise
Ski Destinations, Outdoor Adventures, RV Camping
  • Heather travels the world writing stories for major media outlets such as CNN, ABC, Forbes, and Southern Living.
  • She traveled solo to Tanzania to produce profile videos of orphaned children receiving free educations.
  • Now an empty nester, she enjoys any opportunity to combine her passion for travel and the outdoors with her love of storytelling.

Experience

Hired right out of college as a news writer for CNN, Heather Whitley ascended quickly to the role of producer. Over the years, she has expanded her writing portfolio to include entertainment, sports, and travel content. In addition to her work as a writer and producer, Heather has also directed live events with VIP celebrities, developed the first citizen journalism mobile platform for CNN's iReport brand, and served as a program developer, where she led brainstorms and brand-building workshops with senior-level media executives. Her high-profile interviews include Dikembe Mutombo, Olympic Gold Medalist Caroline Marks, and the Unabomber sketch artist. Heather earned a Peabody and two National Headliner Awards while at CNN and was recognized as one of the Women in Cable Television's Rising Leaders.

Education

Heather graduated with honors from The University of Florida and was presented the 1997 Ruth & Rae O. Weimer Award as the Outstanding Graduate of The College of Journalism and Communication.

Islands Editorial Policies

Islands content is created by a team of veteran writers and editors passionate about travel. Outside experts with deep field knowledge sometimes inform our work with additional context and perspectives by way of exclusive commentary. Our goal is to offer readers well-rounded and diverse articles that inform, entertain, and inspire.

Our editors consistently review and update articles to ensure they're providing current, relevant, and useful information. Complete information on our editorial process is available here.

Stories By Heather L. Whitley