Birmingham Biz Journal hires Parker to cover commercial real estate

Illyshia D. Parker

The Birmingham Business Journal has hired Illyshia D. Parker as its new commercial real estate reporter.

Managing editor Angel Coker writes, “Parker held previous roles as an editor with Poetic Advisory LLC in Birmingham and junior public relations officer and slam coach with Real Life Poets Inc. in Birmingham.

“She also served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Desert Island Supply Co. from 2016 to 2019. During her time with Desert Island Supply Co., she was promoted to lead teacher and program assistant, developing, coordinating and executing fundraising campaigns, social media campaigns, community events and student book releases. She also developed and managed the Woodlawn High School student newspaper team through recruitment, teaching journalistic principles, delegating of news assignments and planning of publication content.

“‘Illyshia’s experience and knowledge of the metro area will make her an asset to the newsroom as she dives into covering the crucial and dominating realm of real estate in Birmingham,’ said BBJ Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Rebman.”

Read more here.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.