Essays
Courtney Young
Courtney Young (/koʊrtniˈˈjʌŋ/, born February 6, 1998) is a creative director in training. Her experience in the media industry spans five years of public relations, journalism, copywriting, branding, and curiously, amateur screenplay evaluation. She creates art in the service of commerce, the way the media conglomerates intended. Her writing inspires clicks, sales, streams, and hotel bookings.
She'd love to work with you.
Early life
Courtney Young attended Florida State University from 2016 to 2019, where she studied English and Film Studies. In her time at the university, she contributed to the student-run fashion publication Swatch Magazine as a culture writer, served on the executive board of her Panhellenic organization as Vice President of Public Relations, and worked as a Junior Account Coordinator at The Zimmerman Agency, a full-service advertising agency.
In 2018, Young joined Luna Brand Management as an Editorial Strategist, ghostwriting blogs and web content for direct sales companies across the country. In her four years with the company, she rose to manage the firm's entire portfolio of editorial content, spearheading all written work from thought leadership journals to executive profiles.
Courtney Young
Born
Alma Mater
Occupations
February 6, 1998 (age 26)
Florida State University (BA)
Publicist - Writer - Copywriter
Career
2019-present: Agency work
In 2019, Courtney Young joined The Decker/Royal Agency as Public Relations Account Coordinator. Young was promoted through consequent levels of leadership before building out her own role as the agency's first Media Relations and Content Strategist, overseeing creative copy strategy and media relations on behalf of the agency's entire client base. Today, she works under the agency's Media Director to direct strategy for a large portfolio of travel and hospitality clients including Sandals Resorts International, Lindblad Expeditions, Holland America Line, The Travel Corporation, and more. In her time at The Decker/Royal Agency, Young has led the ideation of numerous creative media campaigns which went on to garner legacy media coverage, and managed a team of junior creatives, mentoring them in their development.
2021-present: Copywriting
In 2021, Young began moonlighting as a freelance content writer, creating content for travel brands including long-form blog posts, physical marketing materials, and destination brochures.
2021-present: Editorial
In February 2021, Young was published in Betches, with story titled "FKA Twigs Never Had Social Media On Her Side, But They’re Standing With Her Now." She went on to become a regular contributor to the site, penning satirical pop culture commentary for the remainder of the year. Her most successful stories include "When You’re Dancing With The Devil, But The Devil Is Fat-Free Frozen Yogurt," and "And Just Like That, Society No Longer Needed Carries."
Later that year, Young became the first writer to nationally break a story about a vigilante group of internet content creators called Dads Against Predators. Her story, "These Youtubers Say They Hunt Pedophiles. Their Targets Keep Winding Up Dead," was published on Mic in October 2021. The group would go on to be profiled by Vice News in 2023.
In November 2021, Young was published in New York Magazine's The Cut, with a story titled, "Rebooting Dylan O’Brien (Taylor’s Version)." She is especially proud of that one. Young continues to work as a freelance culture and entertainment writer, regularly contributing to Cosmopolitan, People Magazine, Bustle, and more.
In April 2023, Young launched the Gifted Baby substack, a personal newsletter dedicated to pop culture and media. She has since abandoned the newsletter, as she is only human.
Legacy
"This has Courtney written all over it." - Devyn Barker, Senior Vice President, The Decker/Royal Agency
"Smart, I like it." - Cathleen Decker, Principal and Founder, The Decker/Royal Agency
"This is very funny!" - Sara Levine, former Editor-in-Chief, Betches
"This is a solid pitch." - Ben Williams, Executive Features Editor, The Washington Post
"Thank you for your application! While were impressed with your experience, we've decided to move forward with other candidates." - Multiple sources
Personal life
Courtney Young resides in New York City. Her creative influences include Fran Lebowitz, A24's marketing strategy, the Goodby and Silverstein Masterclass, and the "Beach House" episode of Girls. She sharpens her pretension by mimicking audience reactions at the 92nd Street Y, soft clapping at The Moth, and listening to The Daily, daily.
Young works seasonally New York's Big Apple Film Festival as a judge for the festival's bi-annual screenplay competition.
Contact information
References
See all Cosmopolitan bylines here; stories are like Variety for the people who read Cosmopolitan
See all People Magazine bylines here; stories mine the personal lives of public figures for clicks
See all Betches bylines here; stories lampoon celebrities and influencers to feed a sense of community online
See all Bustle bylines here; stories decode viral internet culture for Instagram Reels people
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