Derrick Williams is a 28-year-old living in Minnesota and working under the suddenly hazy title of “journalist.”

By day, Derrick is the editor of a medium-sized, weekly newspaper that is dying in the world of new media and Craigslist. By night, he’s a social media explorer and new media tryer-outer.

Derrick currently works for Thisweek Newspapers and covers local government and general assignment news in the town of Lakeville, a southern suburb of the Twin Cities that’s home to more than 40,000 people and considered one of the last outposts on southbound Interstate 35 before you hit endless miles of farmland.

Beyond the Lakeville gig, Derrick has previously worked for Fanball.com/Fantasy Football Weekly and as co-managing editor for the Student Voice, the student-run campus newspaper serving the University of Wisconsin — River Falls, the college he graduated from in 2005 with a degree in print journalism and a minor in political science.

An award winning writer, he’s authored stories that have appeared at USOC.com — home to the United States Olympics team — as well as local newspapers and Web sites around the upper midwest.

He was also invited to New York city in 2005 to participate in a symposium hosted by the New York Times for collegiate newspaper editors focusing on the role of newspapers in a democracy. His 500-word dissertation was published by the Times following the event.

Derrick grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota, and currently lives in Farmington, Minnesota, with his collection of Harry Potter books. He’s an only-child, but has a step-brother and a brother-like nephew.

He says his life was once so normal it was abnormal, but things change. He’s like 6’9” tall, which, apparently, is really up there. Derrick’s dad must have made him drink plenty of milk growing up. He blames that for making him a procrastinator.

What?

He also says he misses playing NHLPA ’94 for the Sega Genesis. Old school represent.