Journalist, writer, editor, proofreader
20+ years
- Interview and reporting skills
- Accuracy
- Clarity
- Technical writing
- Recruit/ contract with /budget /train /manage /edit assignments for a team of 20+ freelancers including writing, photos, videos. Interested in seeing my Freelancer Agreement, Assignment Letter example, Routing Sheet of deadlines used by multiple departments, and Special Sections calendar? CLICK HERE for images.
- Encouraged my team to be ambassadors for the special sections that their work was published in, which engaged our readers and provided brand opportunities for our advertisers
- Collaborated with co-workers who were my peers, not under my supervision, to assist with some of the special sections produced each year when there were more in one week than one person could manage (92 sections a year). We had a great system of organizing the articles/photos for each section, including ones coming from freelancers and advertorial subscription services. I also provided a pagination template so the location of where each article and photo should be placed was a no-brainer (the ad locations were already on the template from the ad layout staff; all could be moved as needed).
Content Management Systems
My employers have used multiple content management systems throughout the years, migrating to new and better systems when needed. For example, when the newspaper began to provide its news content online, we migrated from a print-based system to a CMS that could handle both. Two versions of an article were created at one time: one for print, one for the web. A plug-in was created so that the articles could be dragged from the CMS (or clicked) and placed on a news page by the news page designer (InDesign pagination). A web editor was hired, too.
The same was done for the advertisement management system when digital ad space became highly coveted (I worked as special sections editor in the Advertising/Marketing department). Eventually, the newsroom began to use Google Drive for collaborating on story assignments. When the company was being restructured prior to its sale, I gained a second title as a copy editor of the entertainment section for the newsroom. So my work straddled two departments and I learned a lot. I already had great time management skills, and this really put my abilities to the test.
After a period of time, I had a different second position for the newsroom, as copy editor/writer of the Sun Spots column, a community question-and-answer column. Content came in mostly from emails and so email accounts were treated like digital filing cabinets for a while, using a system of folders to organize the work.
At the news/ad agency, I managed and trained new hires in how to use the custom-built database. The database was maintained to see client information, ad copy, and kept a history of ad sales, rates charged, and notes about future contact. I created a workflow for the remote copy editors using email as a content management system. It worked beautifully and did not cost the employer anything above what she already paid for her site host.
At the museum, we used Google Drive to share content as the museum does not have an intranet. I implemented a new policy where documents were uploaded to either of our two generic email addresses so that when employees leave and the employer disables their email address, we will still have access to important organizational documents. We have had five employees leave in the last two years and so this new policy is valid.
Links to my published work:
All blog posts on the Franco Center’s news blog:
https://www.francocenter.org/news
Blog post, as guest writer, about SVA programs for seniors at Museum L-A:
A Historic Textile Mill Inspires Creative Agers at Museum L-A
Press release about Prom Gown Giveaway (volunteer):
https://www.sunjournal.com/2014/04/14/gowns-galore-given-away-april-19-foss-mansion/
Balloon festival, special shape (as editor):
https://www.sunjournal.com/2014/08/10/special-shape-sunny-boy-bright-orb-sky/
Bunco at WLU (as marketing leader at TPI):
WLU holiday open house in Sun Journal special section (as editor at SJ):
https://newspagedesigner.org/pages/womansliteraryunion-1
Dog owner seeks pet’s siblings (as marketing leader at TPI):
Jose Leiva, photographer (as marketing leader at TPI):
A LIFE’S WORK Jose Leiva: Inspiration is in the eye of the beholder
Search for lost friends (as marketing leader at TPI):
Lost high school ring returned 30 years later (as marketing leader at TPI, I created this GOOD DEEDS column so readers could submit content and thank good Samaritans):
Video of presentation on using my Arts & Humanities degree in my career (part-time job as communications specialist at USM LAC):
Facebook post: Brought my dinosaur to work to see the new art installation in the courtyard and tagged the city of Lewiston (as marketing leader at Museum L-A):
Facebook post: Dinosaur at work using SnapChat filter (as marketing leader at Museum L-A):
Twitter post about 3D paper art sculpture workshop for seniors (as marketing leader at Museum L-A):
Students in our #creativeaging 3D paper sculpture art workshop funded by @ArohaPhil learned about textiles created in Lewiston-Auburn, part of our mission. Bates Mfg was well known for its bedspreads and the designs inspired our students in their 4th week. pic.twitter.com/1Tt0X1UYW1
— Museum L-A (@MuseumLA) September 19, 2019
Links to other communications including How-to Guides:
SPECIAL SECTIONS GUIDE FOR ADVERTISERS
This is a page from a guide I wrote that sales reps could share with their advertising accounts that were interested in publishing a special section for their business, such as for an event, new building, products, etc. This guide included deadline and image resolution information. CLICK HERE TO SEE ENTIRE GUIDE.
HOW-TO GUIDE FOR FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Another project I was tasked with was to create a how-to guide for funeral home staff who wished to place obituaries in our newspaper. Someone else had already created one but the boss appreciated my clarity and asked me to create a new one. I had never served as the newspaper’s obit editor so this was new to me, but I successfully completed the task. This is one page in the guide in which I use a workflow chart. CLICK FOR LARGER VERSION OF THE WORKFLOW CHART.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
I created a how-to guide (as a volunteer) for playing Bunco at the Woman’s Literary Union’s clubhouse. CLICK IMAGE for larger version.
