Meet Nile Fortner | Community Columnist Journalist and Multimedia

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nile Fortner and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Nile, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
As someone who works in media, whether it’s writing an article, or content creating for social media, I believe networking is a huge factor. I actively pursue events, network meetings, and do my best to engage with people whenever possible. For me, social media was a big one.
I was hesitant to get on social media at first. But when I did, I engaged, contacted, and used it to make opportunities for myself. I’d share my articles, community events, send messages and therefore, I used it for networking with those in South Florida.
I went on social media with the purpose to network and truly meet and engage with people beyond just hitting the like button. This has led me to meeting and making opportunities for myself as a freelance journalist, working in public relations, and more.
This has led me to becoming a more well-rounded and connected multimedia journalist and opportunities to work as a South Florida community columnist writer for various publications and platforms.
Some of those newspapers, magazines, and websites I write for include the Sun-Sentinel, Miami New Times, Fort Lauderdale Magazine, MIA Media Group/Legacy, The New Pelican Newspaper, and more.
Some of my articles have gone on to be cover stories for local newspapers, and I work to help bring awareness and understanding to news, and features on people, interests, businesses, and events.
I’ve also been a podcaster for BocaFirst, Choose954, and CinePhellas. Also, I worked in public relations with The Gab Group, and did social media management such as for Yacht Life TV, and Grace Arts Fort Lauderdale, Venice Fort Lauderdale’s Magazine, and the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF).
All this and more, because I decided to use social media to meet similar minded people, those in the media industry, and truly use it beyond what I originally thought I could use it for.
I became a writer, which is something I wanted to do for years. Ever since I was in grade school, I had an interest in writing and stories. My parents would share books, movies, comics, and all kinds of forms of storytelling with me. I still remember being a kid and my dad sharing a big box of comic books with me and I knew from that day forward, I would be invested in storytelling.
So, from being that kid loving stories, to using social media to network, I get to do what I’ve always loved.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Ever since I was a child, I had an interest in stories, such as the format to tell a story, writing, and characters. My parents would share books, movies, comics, and all kinds of forms of storytelling with me. I still remember being a kid and my dad sharing a big box of comic books with me and I knew from that day forward, I would be invested in storytelling.
I took that interest in storytelling, and I took the elements I learned and personally enjoyed and applied them to real stories in the South Florida community and culture. Especially since I was gaining a new appreciation for the South Florida communities and culture.
So, I took my interest in writing while wanting to apply it to the community. I studied storytelling and characters, and that inspired how I write about people. For instance, there’s no reason why we can’t read about someone or see someone and cheer for them the same way we do Rocky, Batman, etc.
I really wanted to tell real stories and have people react or be interested and invested in them the same way they’d be invested in a novel, movie, comic book, etc.
While in school, I got more experience being a writer, even writing for my Piper High School blog. Therefore, I eventually felt confident enough and I reached out to local publications and platforms. I wanted to see if I could become a community writer helping to bring awareness, understanding, news, and features to people and events.
I believe to learn about people is to learn about the community and to learn about the community is to learn about yourself in a way I’ve learned so much about myself, the people around me, the areas, and so much.
At first, it wasn’t exactly easy. Not too many things are. However, I kept trying to learn and better my craft with writing, such as descriptive writing, learning AP Style, etc.
Doing this, I learned that I could combine two things I love. Community and story.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love the restaurant Ceviche105! It was recently recommended to me by my friend Kimberly Padilla. I also love the Wynwood area and Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Rubell Museum is great. Also, Sawgrass and Aventura Malls, Cinemark Paradise 24, Steve’s Pizza in North Miami (Best pizza I’ve ever had), Tate’s Comics, South Beach, and Avocado Grill is one of my favorite restaurants. I’m a foodie guy and we have a lot of amazing ones!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Alethia and Clifford Fortner (Parents) Jessica Graves of Yacht Life TV (Friend)
Brett Diaz of Hook360 and My South Florida Today (Friend)
Website: https://nilefortner.wixsite.com/nilefortner
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nile_fortner/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilefortner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nile_Fortner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nile.fortner.79
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfP8bRmE3j9saKzRuS-EXrg?view_as=subscriber