Writer, editor, newsroom manager: Career spanning more than 30 years in positions ranging from editorial assistant to editor in chief in broadcast, print and online media. Passion for creativity, critical perspective, accuracy, and fairness. Committed to creating and supporting cohesive, high-functioning newsroom teams.
--Expert at creating content and directing news coverage.
--Exacting writer and editor focused on delivering highly polished scripts and stories.
--Engaged mentor with long history of collaborating with and guiding both new and veteran journalists.
Professional Experience:
June 2004-present: Freelance writer/editor
Have reported and written breaking and longer-form features on new space technology and the future of the telecommunications technology for Wired News (www.wired.com), Wired magazine and elsewhere. Have also consulted on retail editorial projects for Restoration Hardware and The Home Depot.
January 2001-May 2004: TechTV
Worked with newsroom team that created a daily, eight-hour live news show ("TechLive," launched April 2001 and later condensed to a 30-minute show). Responsible for all aspects of story creation, including developing story ideas, directing research, assigning and briefing reporters and producers, and approving final script . Also oversaw assignment desk (in charge of shoot and edit schedules) and wrote story and segment scripts as needed.
December 1998-January 2001: Freelance writer
Working on a variety of long news features, essays, and news stories. I've had features published in The New York Times Magazine, Wired, T&L Golf, Business 2.0, and Red Herring and shorter pieces on Salon.com and Wired News, in the New York Times, and in SmartBusiness (formerly PC Computing) magazine.
March 1997-December 1998: Wired News, Wired magazine
Served as politics and news editor and editor in chief at Wired Digital's daily news service. Moved to Wired as deputy editor immediately after the magazine was sold to Conde Nast and was involved in all aspects of feature development, assignment, and editing. Gave up full-time staff position to focus exclusively on writing.
January 1996-February 1997: CMP Media Inc.'s NetGuide Live
Editor in chief: Started as senior editor, subsequently promoted to co-managing editor (July) and acting editor (September). Original responsibilities included directing writers and editors in development of a critical catalog of 50,000-plus sites on the World Wide Web. Subsequent roles included development of daily content for the project, which launched in September 1996 as NetGuide Live, and leader of team to expand the site's daily directory of live Internet programming. Left position prior to company's decision to close the San Francisco office.
April 1984-January 1996: San Francisco Examiner
Assistant metro editor: Managed group of 10 reporters in all phases of story development, writing, scheduling, and editing. Prepared and supervised metro department's daily story budget. As night desk editor (1987-1990), managed staff of at least six reporters and photographers in production of The Examiner's metro news report. As morning desk editor (1990), managed staff of from six to 25 reporters, editors and photographers (depending on news demands) in producing four daily editions. Assistant foreign/national editor (1984-87;1992-95): Edited national and international news for daily editions. Editorial writer, op-ed page editor (1990-92): Researched, wrote, and edited editorials; handled all facets of editing opinion page.Writer, reporter: On an occasional basis, wrote news stories, features, reviews, and analyses.
Previous experience: Worked as a copy boy, reporter, and editor for six papers, including the Chicago Tribune, from 1972 through 1984. Have also worked as a taxi driver, construction laborer, sauna employee, and attendant for a quadriplegic.
Skills: Languages: Basic Japanese (spoken only) and basic German. Basic abilities in HTML and Web authoring and design tools.
Education: 1979-81: University of California, Berkeley (history undergraduate; no degree taken).
1976: Nanzan University (studied Japanese language and history in exchange program in Nagoya, Japan.)
1974-76: Illinois State University (history undergraduate; no degree taken)
Interests: Cycling; hiking; history (Irish, Norwegian, Japanese, American); fisheries issues; Irish literature; theater.