For the past 18 years, I have operated a
freelance business offering services, including writing, editing, public
relations, press releases, newsletters, flyers and brochures.
Highlights:
• monthly contract work with FYI (formerly Forever Young) — writing, editing, page design; 15-plus years as
primary health writer; developed extensive beats in retirement communities and
housing, entertainment and travel.
• contributing editor for Metroland Media Group publications including health and wellness
magazines Body, Mind and Spirit (inaugural editor), its successor Live It! plus
Healthcare Careers; responsibilities include planning editorial, writing,
editing and assigning and paying freelance writers.
• edited Prostate
Prostate Prostate — A Problem of Men, a book by London, Ont. author Harold
Usher.
• principal writer (1999-2003) with What’s On Woodstock, a monthly magazine
produced by the city.
• public relations (1992-2002) with the Royal Canadian Big Band Music Festival
in London, Ont., designing and producing press kits and an annual promotional newspaper,
circulating press releases and public service announcements.
FYI/Forever
Young
447 Speers Road, Oakville, Ontario
Contact: Don Wall, Editor
905-842-6591 ext 241
1989-1993 (as Today’s Seniors): inaugural
editor of the London and Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge editions and editorial
assistant in design and production.
1993-present as freelance writer and copy
editor. (see above)
Over
50 Magazine,
Bowes Publishers Ltd.
London, Ontario
1988-1989: inaugural editor of a magazine for
the 50-plus population in London, St. Thomas, Woodstock and surrounding region.
St.
Thomas Times-Journal
St. Thomas, Ontario
1980-1988: general reporter covering health,
education, and City Hall and also interim lifestyles editor.
Statistics
London
London, Ontario
1979-1980: limited-time project researching
and writing a book of demographic information about London for business and
social service use — designing charts, tables, graphs; converting census data
to apply to the London population; contracting and supervising printing;
setting up permanent data base; producing an advertising brochure; answering
requests for demographic information.
Fanshawe
College of Applied Arts and Technology
London, Ontario
1979: public relations coordinator, acting as
liaison with community and southwestern Ontario news media with responsibility
as well for news and feature writing and production of course brochures.
Saskatchewan
Teachers’ Federation Bulletin
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
1975-1977: assistant editor of a bi-weekly publication
for educators, including reporting, writing, photography, editing, film
processing and printing, page design, proofreading and production supervision, PR
liaison with public, media and federation members. Also assisted with the
co-ordination, operation of and instruction at student writing and editing
workshops for high school newspapers and yearbooks.
Regina
Leader-Post
Regina, Saskatchewan
1974-1975: staff reporter with beats including
city council, education and general assignment.
Peterborough
Examiner
Peterborough, Ontario
1973: assistant women’s editor, writing and
photography, editing, page design and production supervision.
Other Experience
• Conduct career seminars and workshops on
Journalism for high school students.
• Currently sit on a St. Thomas YWCA committee
which hosts an annual Women’s Day conference of workshops and seminars and
guest speakers.
• Short-term and summer employment — desk
clerk at the University of Western Ontario Business School library;
writer/information officer with Transport Canada, Ottawa; secretary at Canadian
Medical Protective Association, Ottawa.
Memberships
• Professional Writers Association of Canada
(PWAC).
• Elgin Business Women’s Network, St.
Thomas/Elgin County.
• Canadian Federation of University Women, St.
Thomas, Ont
• Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Laureate Tau
chapter, St. Thomas, Ont.
Courses
• Writing
For The Digital Age (2010), University of Western Ontario Continuing
Education.
Awards
• National Mature Media Gold Award (2010) in
the magazine/newspaper/newsletter article category for a feature – Opening up the world – about new
technologies for the deaf and hard of hearing.
• National Mature Media Merit Award (2008) in
the magazine/newspaper/newsletter article category for a feature – Bosom Buddies – about bonding among
breast cancer survivors.
• National Mature Media Silver Award (2007) in
the magazine/newspaper/newsletter article category for a feature – Berry Healthy – on the health benefits
of cherries and blueberries.
• National Mature Media Bronze Awards (2006)
in the magazine/newspaper/newsletter article category for features Walking for Life about fundraising walks
for breast cancer across the county; and War
Stress about post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors of the Second
World War and Korean War
• Distinguished Achievement Award for
excellence in educational journalism from Educational Press Association of
America (1975) for a series on teaching in isolated northern Saskatchewan
communities.