Essays
Courtney Young
Courtney Young (/koʊrtniˈˈjʌŋ/, born February 6, 1998) is a media strategist whose industry experience 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 work inspires clicks, sales, streams, and hotel bookings.
She'd love to work with you.
Courtney Young
Born
Alma Mater
Occupations
February 6, 1998 (age 26)
Florida State University (BA)
Publicist - Writer - Strategist
Career
Early life
From 2012-2016, Young completed a four-year pre-collegiate program in Interior Design. After attending college to study a language she already spoke, that rooted interest led her into the lobbies of the world's most beautiful hotels via her work as a hospitality publicist.
Courtney Young studied English and Film Studies at Florida State University from 2016 to 2019. There, she contributed to the student-run Swatch Magazine as a culture writer, served her Panhellenic organization as Vice President of Public Relations, and maintained membership in the university's advertising club.
2018-present: Agency work
In 2018, Courtney Young began working as a Junior Account Coordinator with The Zimmerman Agency, a full-service advertising agency representing such brands as Hard Rock Hotels, The Kessler Collection, The Ritz Carlton, and Norwegian Cruise Line.
In 2019, Young joined The Decker/Royal Agency as a Public Relations Account Coordinator, representing a large portfolio of travel and hospitality clients including Atlantic Hospitality, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions, Sandals Resorts International, Holland America Line, The Travel Corporation, and more. In her years with agency, Young has led the ideation of numerous creative media campaigns designed to garner editorial and media coverage, and was promoted through consequent levels of client-facing leadership before building out her own role as the agency's first Media Relations and Content Strategist. Today, she works as a Senior Strategist under the agency's Media Director to oversee all creative copy, direct media relations strategies for all clients, and mentor junior creatives in their development.
2018-present: Copywriting
In 2018, Young joined Luna Brand Management as a copywriter, 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.
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, a pop culture 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 vigilante creator group "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 department, the Goodby and Silverstein Masterclass, and the "Beach House" episode of Girls. She sharpens her pretension by observing 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
Categories: Living People | English Majors | People Who Come From Florida But No Longer Claim The State