Karen Hendricks, Owner/President, Hendricks Communications, LLC

Karen Hendricks is an award-winning journalist, as well as an award-winning public relations and marketing professional. She owns and operates Hendricks Communications which provides compelling freelance writing, marketing, public relations, social media and photography services to clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region. Karen’s writing is regularly published in numerous magazines; additionally, she hosts and produces TheBurg Podcast for Greater Harrisburg’s Community Magazine, TheBurg.

As a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Karen strives to be ethical, accurate, fair and thorough in all she writes. Karen previously worked in television, radio and newspaper.

Current freelance writing outlets where you can find Karen’s words:

• Celebrate Gettysburg magazine, Gettysburg, PA
• Susquehanna Style magazine, Lancaster, PA
• TheBurg, Greater Harrisburg’s Community Magazine, Harrisburg, PA
• Baltimore Style, Baltimore, MD
• MetroKids Philly, Philadelphia, PA
• Frederick’s Child, Frederick, MD
• Susquehanna Life, Lewisburg, PA

Journalism Accolades:

Excellence in Journalism Awards, 2021, Society of Professional Journalists, Keystone Chapter:

• 1st place statewide among all sizes of media outlets, for TheBurg Podcast
• 1st place, sports feature, non-daily media, for “Son Run”
• 2nd place, sports feature, non-daily media, for “Inspired Miles”

2021 Keystone Media Awards sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation:

• 2nd place, as part of a group entry representative of topics in diversity, including my story “Michael’s Mission”
• Honorable mention, lifestyle/entertainment beat, for running/fitness-releated stories, “Son Run”, “Run Hear”, “Run On”, and “Inspired Miles”
• Honorable mention, podcast, for my work hosting/producing TheBurg Podcast

Past and present PR/Marketing and/or Social Media clients:

• Destination Gettysburg, Gettysburg, PA
• Adams Economic Alliance, Gettysburg, PA
• Sprocket Mural Works / Harrisburg Mural Festival, Harrisburg, PA
• Visit Hershey & Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA
• Graphcom, a health care, education, & non-profit marketing agency, Gettysburg, PA
• Health Sciences Library Association of New Jersey, Princeton, NJ, a non-profit organization linking several hundred East Coast and Mid-Atlantic hospitals from Maine to Florida
• Numerous medical facilities including independent cancer centers and prominent dental practices
• Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg, Mechanicsburg, PA
• Adams County Arts Council, Gettysburg, PA
• Wendy Heiges Designs, Gettysburg, PA
• Adams County Habitat for Humanity, Adams County, PA
• The Gettysburg Festival, celebrating American arts, culture and cuisine for 10 days in Gettysburg, PA; an economic arts initiative created under former Governor Edward G. Rendell
• Visit PA, the Pennsylvania State Tourism Office, writing for the state’s travel blog

On a personal note…

Karen earned a BA in Communications/Media Studies, with a minor in English, from Lock Haven University. She earned two concentrations with her degree: Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations. She deeply believes that education is a life-long pursuit; she regularly attends conferences and seeks continuing education opportunities such as Social Media Week New York. She is a certified Pennsylvania festivals and events executive, having completed a leadership and social media certificate program at Temple University.

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Karen has lived in Central Pennsylvania for 30 years. Professional highlights include working as morning news producer at WGAL Channel 8 for several years (her “dream job”) and then–in 2009–she was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with James Earl Jones during her time as PR/Marketing Director of a 10-day arts festival. Karen is a “foodie” who loves cooking and gardening; she is also a classically-trained pianist. Personal achievements include running her first marathon in 2018. But she considers her family and three mostly-grown children her brightest, best accomplishments.