Monday, July 23, 2007

Adding Poynter job listings to My Yahoo

Bill Mitchell, editor of Poynter Online, recently discovered this blog and offered this helpful tip for jobseekers:


If you have My Yahoo, which allows you to personalize a Yahoo page with news feeds of your choice, you can add a module that lists the latest job postings on Poynter's Web site (http://e.my.yahoo.com/config/cstore?.opt=content&.sid=4022651&lg=us).


My Yahoo is easy and free to set up; I believe the only requirement is that you have an e-mail account with them (which, of course, is free).


If you're not interested in setting up a My Yahoo page, you can always look for jobs on the Poynter site here:


http://www.poynter.org/indeed/Default.asp


Thanks, Bill.

Farewell from Suzanne Pullen

Here's a note former Chronicle reporter Suzanne Pullen sent to her colleagues on Friday (with her permission, the note was edited for this blog):


I started out as an editorial assistant on the weekend night desk for the Hearst Examiner in April 2000 after Jason Lloren recommended me for the job because I needed some extra money. I moved over to the PM desk after the merger and laughed more than I thought possible before noon at the running commentary and prison lingo. I got the chance to know some of the most distiguished veterans of the merged papers, too. I feel lucky to have snacked on Malcolm Glover's pretzels and jelly beans, had lunch with Sandy Zane and heard stories from Lynn Ludlow. I've had a blast playing softball with Reid Sams and other talented ballers, including Heather Smith, Mike Moffitt, Suzanne Herel, Benny Evangelista, Matt Petty and Al Saracevic. I was honored to walk in the Avon 3-Day Breast Cancer walk with Liz Mangelsdorf, Jenny Strasburg, Rachel Gordon and Ilene Lelchuk because of the overwhelming success of the Men of the Chronicle Calendar fundraiser.


I was told I would never be a reporter at this paper — that I would only be an editorial assistant. But then a wonderful, under-appreciated staffer, Bob Stephens, told me whom to pitch stories to. Greg Lewis gave me my first assignment and John Koopman became my mentor through two years of freelancing for virtually every section of the paper. Deborah Brown assigned me to Question Man (I'll always remember Willie Brown answering one week's question by telling me his favorite San Francisco movie was Steve McQueen's "Bullet" because his car mowed down newspaper boxes). And then in 2003, Heidi Swillinger and Phil Bronstein gave me a chance to become a full-time reporter for ChronicleWatch. I am grateful to all the editors I have worked for who believed in me, including Robert Rosenthal, Marcus Chan and Alison Biggar, who gave me a chance that changed my life and helped the lives of thousands of other bereaved parents.


I may not have always agreed with the people directly in charge of my destiny at this paper — and I definitely made that clear as most of you who have been in a staff meeting with me can attest to — but I am grateful for the chance to work with some of the most intelligent and inspired people I have ever met. Unfortunately, many of them have left the paper.


Too many women, too many minorities, too many part-time mothers, too many senior staffers with invaluable institutional memory, too many young writers with incredible potential have left.


Still, there is a strong heart that beats at this paper. I saw proof of that heart two years ago in the cards and flowers that co-workers sent after my son was stillborn — I will never forget the care shown to me, from the publisher's office to the mailroom people. (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)


Please don't forget that you all have a voice. Speaking up, questioning decisions, demanding proof and trying to get the story right when it comes to what goes into the paper is your job, but it is also your right to do the same of those who run it.


But what do I know, I was just an EA who didn't take no for an answer.


I will miss this place ... and what most of it stands for. Thank you to everyone else I didn't mention who has made my time here more than worth it. I look forward to reading your stories on the other side.


From your loud mouth, passionate and stubborn co-worker,


Suzanne Pullen
savanmagic@yahoo.com
415-664-1589


"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." — Eleanor Roosevelt

Job opp: Senior producer at Yahoo

Here's a position in Santa Monica that Yahoo is looking to fill:


If you have a moment, I'd appreciate your help. Please take a look and forward this job on to anyone you think would be interested in the position, or anyone else who could help me find a great candidate.


Company: Yahoo
Job Title: Sr. Content Producer
Description: see info on hotjobs at URL below:


http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobseeker/jobsearch/job_detail.html;_ylt=ArXJD5A1G9L5KqiQbi90hDX6Q6IX?job_id=JL6IVVC36

Job opps: Communications at Kaiser

Here's one from former Chron metro assigning editor Tyra Mead, who now is senior communications consultant for Kaiser in Oakland:


Here are two in the office I work in at Kaiser. The senior communications consultant position would be more appropriate for someone with more years of experience; the specialist position is a more junior position. People can apply online at kaiserpermanente.org .

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Reinvent yourself as a media entrepreneur

Here's something from former Chron staffer Dickson Louie:


In light of the recent cutbacks at The Chronicle and at the Merc, the Maynard Institute is sponsoring a free event at its headquarters in Oakland on Monday, July 30, with tips on how journalists can reinvent themselves or start their own business. More info below:


Thinking of starting a blog or other digital media business? The Maynard Institute is pleased to offer a program on getting started as a media entrepreneur.


Speakers are:


• Dickson Louie, former director of strategic planning , San Francisco Chronicle, on writing a business plan.
• Brian O’Malley, senior associate, Battery Ventures, on finding capital.
• Kenneth Cooper, former Boston Globe national editor, on personal reinvention.


Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Date: Monday, July 30
Place: Maynard Institute Headquarters, 1211 Preservation Park Way, Oakland, 94612.


All the speakers have volunteered their time so Maynard is able to offer this program at no charge. Seating space is limited. Please RSVP to Melanie McCormick at the Maynard Institute. She can be reached at 510-891-9202 or at mmccormick@maynardije.org

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Farewell gatherings this week

Food writer Karola Craib sent this note to the staff on Tuesday:


So it's my last day, and I would like it to end on a mellow note. If you are so inclined, please join me Thursday at Vino Venu on Mission at 3rd (between Peet's and A.J. Ferrari) between 6 and 7:30.


This note was sent on Monday regarding reporter Suzanne Pullen and librarian Laura Perkins:


Please join your fellow collegues is saying goodbye to Metro reporter and softball team member, Suzanne Pullen this Friday from 5:30 to 7pm at the Hotel Milano bar (next to King of Thai Noodle) on 5th Street between Mission and Market streets. After seven years with the Hearst Examiner and Chronicle, she is leaving her post at ChronicleWatch to return to graduate school, work on a book on stillbirth and subsequent pregnancy and take care of her son Quinn part-time.


Longtime librarian Laura Perkins is also departing from the Chronicle and will be spending more time (at least in the immediate future) with her partner and nearly four-month-old daughter Emma. Today is her last day, but she'll be returning to say goodbye at the Milano on Friday as well.

Career counseling at JFK University

A tip from Chron copy editor Beth Bourland:


JFK University offers career counseling appointments. Please note: There is a fee of $50 (if you are a JFK student or alumni, the fee is waived). Some testing, assessment and other services are available (some require additional fee). For more info, call 925.969.3542 or see http://www.jfku.edu/services/career_center/

Job opps: San Antonio Express-News, The Record (N.J.), Register Guard (Ore.), Stanford

Apologies for the lack of postings. Here are some out-of-state job opps sent my way:


Job opp at San Antonio


The San Antonio Express-News has an opening on their projects staff for an investigative/enterprise reporter. They're looking for someone who can dig deeply and write artfully. (No contact info given, but their Web site is http://www.mysanantonio.com/.)


Job opps at The Record (Bergen County, NJ)


The Record has an immediate opening for a talented graphic artist/designer. We're seeking a multi-talented graphic artist/designer with creative vision and the ability to do it all, from designing pages for both news and features to doing info-graphics to creating dynamic images. The successful candidate will work in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines. We're looking for someone who can think beyond the norm, and way outside the box, to come up with fresh ideas. We want an artist with great news judgment and the skills to bring it all together in a visually appealing package that will stop a reader in his tracks. Candidates should have three to five years of daily experience, or equivalent.


We're seeking an experienced editor to join The Record's business team. This deputy business editor will assist the business editor and another deputy in planning and editing the seven-day-a-week business section and the Sunday real estate section. Duties include assigning and editing breaking news and enterprise and weekly reports focusing on North Jersey's major industry sectors. We're seeking a well-organized pro with superior time-management skills and the ability to juggle many tasks. Ability to work quickly and accurately to meet multiple deadlines is essential. Candidates should have at least five to seven years of daily experience, including at least three years as an editor.


The Record's sports department is seeking a full-time copy/layout editor. We're looking for a talented journalist with strong copy editing, layout and headline skills. Candidates should have a minimum of five years experience working for a daily sports section.


If you're interested in any of these positions, send a cover letter on why you want the job, samples of your best work and a résumé to Douglas Clancy, Assistant Managing Editor, The Record, 150 River. St., Hackensack, NJ 07601.


Some background about our newspaper: The Record is family-owned, medium-sized newspaper located in North Jersey, just 15 miles away from Times Square in Manhattan and a short drive from the shore and the mountains. It has won the "General Excellence Award" as New Jersey's best daily newspaper in 10 of the past 15 years, including three of the past four years.


Copy editors needed at Register Guard in Oregon


(From Karola Craib) A long-ago Chron copy editor who is now w. the Honolulu Advertiser sent me this:


I just got word that the Eugene, Ore., Register Guard is looking for two copy editors. It's a pretty good medium-sized daily, owned by a local family that has no apparent interest in selling, and is a Guild shop. Nobody here is interested, but somebody there might be. Eugene housing costs are high by Oregon standards, low by Bay Area standards. And Eugene is a pretty swell little town with at least one decent Italian restaurant (Beppe and Gianni's, www.beppeandgiannis.net) and neighborhood wineries that make better pinot noirs than Napa does.


Writer at Stanford


From Susan Gilbert:


Stanford University
Office of Medical Development
SENIOR DEVELOPMENT WRITER


Reporting to the director of communications in Stanford’s Office of Medical Development (OMD), the senior development writer manages all aspects of a wide variety of publications projects. S/he serves on a 5-member team that develops publications to promote, celebrate, or directly solicit private support for Stanford University School of Medicine and Stanford Hospital & Clinics. Priority programs include hospital replacement and renovation; cancer; cardiovascular medicine; neuroscience; immunity, transplantation and infection; orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine; stem cell biology; annual giving; and the medical alumni association. Typical assignments include case statements; brochures; white papers; donor, volunteer, patient, faculty, alumni, and student profiles; major gift proposals; newsletters; event invitations; OMD website updates; and elements of the medical alumni magazine, Bench and Bedside. The senior development writer collaborates with colleagues in the university’s Office of Development to ensure compliance with top-level themes and identity guidelines of The Stanford Challenge, a seven-year, $4.3-billion, campus-wide fundraising campaign that launched in October 2006.


MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
--Writing/Editing (70%): The senior development writer writes and edits copy as assigned by the director of communications and submits her/his work for final edits and approval. He or she also identifies, hires, and oversees the work of freelance writers and proofreaders as necessary to meet production goals and deadlines.
--Research and Collaboration (10%): The senior development writer conducts research as needed to The senior development writer conducts research as needed to complete assigned projects. Examples of necessary research include using the World Wide Web; contacting colleagues at other institutions, interviewing faculty, donors, volunteers, patients, alumni, students, staff, and others, reviewing central files, using a variety of campus communications and image databases, and exploring information in the university’s donor information system. The senior development writer collaborates with faculty, students, donors, volunteers, and OMD and other Stanford staff to plan and produce accurate and effective communications pieces.
--Production Management (10%): The senior development writer is responsible for managing the production and printing of projects as assigned by the director of communications. This includes developing publication concepts, scheduling and overseeing photo sessions, organizing information for and reviewing the work of contract graphic designers, and reviewing laser drafts from designers and blue lines from printers.
--Project Management (10%): The senior development writer is responsible for setting and tracking project schedules, monitoring projects to see that they remain on budget, and negotiating the multiple levels of approval (from faculty, staff, volunteers, and donors) required to complete projects on time, on budget, and on strategy.


QUALIFICATIONS:


Minimum five years of experience writing in a professional setting. Development writing experience is preferred. Science or medical writing experience highly desirable. College degree required; preferable fields of study include English, journalism, and communications. Proven superior writing and editing skills.


Ability to synthesize large amounts of information and compose clear and persuasive prose. Ability to manage complex tasks simultaneously, coordinate the roles of various participants in projects, set priorities and schedules, and meet deadlines with a minimum of supervision.


Attention to detail and exceptional editing and proofreading skill.


Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to facilitate mutual understanding and work effectively with a wide variety of people including: faculty, administrative staff, development colleagues, donors, patients, students, alumni, and friends of the university.


Previous production management experience. Proven customer-service focus. Proficiency in computing applications including e-mail, Windows, Word, Excel, MS Project, PowerPoint, and Internet navigation tools. An understanding of the entire development enterprise—particularly within an academic setting—and the ability to work within that framework desirable. Ability to understand and comply with HIPAA regulations. California driver’s license and a car to travel to and from meetings on campus.


To apply for any Stanford job, an interested candidate has to apply online. Here's the URL for the jobs site: http://jobs.stanford.edu/ Right now, the job is posted under development, but the powers that run these things have promised to move it to communications. The job # is 26239 and if folks follow the directions and click on the search command without specifying any job, they can paste 26239 into the empty box (it's unhelpfully labled "key words") and the job will come up.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Job opps: Freelancing for SF Business Times

Here's one from Emily Fancher, senior editor at the San Francisco Business Times:


The award-winning San Francisco Business Times is seeking freelancers to write news and feature articles about Bay Area business. We primarily use freelancers for our focus sections and special publications. Topics include real estate, hospitality, biotech, law, finance, philanthropy, health-care and technology.


We're looking for sharp, motivated and organized individuals who hit deadlines and work well independently. You should have extensive journalism experience, but a business background is not essential.


We¹re a team of 15 reporters, editors and researchers in downtown San Francisco who work on a weekly publication that won the CNPA's General Excellence Award in 2006.


Please send a resume and five clips to:


Emily Fancher
Senior Editor
San Francisco Business Times
275 Battery St. Ste. 940
San Francisco, CA 94111


Or e-mail efancher@bizjournals.com

Monday, July 9, 2007

Job opps in education

A couple of education-related opportunities sent our way:


Chron education reporter Jill Tucker says Oakland's Unified School District is looking for a public information officer. It's a challenging job, but pays very well. She says the job hasn't been posted yet.


Former Chron reporter Erin Hallissy alerts us to this job posting for editor of UCSB's alumni magazine:


https://jobs.ucsb.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=11840

Friday, July 6, 2007

Farewell from Will Crain

A farewell message from copy editor Will Crain:


As I was preparing to leave The Chronicle, I realized that this place has been a part of my life for more than half the time I’ve been alive. Right out of high school, in the summer of 1987, I started working at The Chronicle as a copy boy. Despite the fact that, in those days, I usually wore death-rock T-shirts and Soviet military jackets to work (to say nothing of my haircut), the paper welcomed me back as an editorial assistant several times over the next few years, during and after my time in college.


I think I worked in every section of the newspaper at one time or another. I was here during the Loma Prieta earthquake and helped break into Herb Caen’s office to retrieve his old Royal when the power went out and our reporters had nothing to write on.


Years later, I took a job as a copy editor on the Examiner’s on-call board, working such shifts as 10 p.m.-5 a.m. and 5 a.m.-1 p.m. My apologies to Courtenay Peddle and Geoff Link, slots who would never have put up with this cliche, but it was a real trial by fire. After the merger, I worked for the Chronicle PM, the Business section and Daily Datebook. Everywhere I worked, I met more talented, smart, helpful and interesting people. It truly has been an honor to work with you all these years.


Here’s another cliche: I will be leaving The Chronicle to pursue other interests. For the time being, I’ll do freelance writing and editing.


I’d like to keep in touch.


E-mail me at willcrain@yahoo.com

Monday, July 2, 2007

Mercury News lays off 31

Here's the latest on the Mercury News job cuts, from the East Bay Express (includes a list of employees who were laid off or resigned):


http://blogs.eastbayexpress.com/92510/2007/07/the_mercury_news_lays_off_31_e.php

Farewell from Narda Zacchino

This is a week old, mainly because I've been waiting to get permission from former deputy editor Narda Zacchino to reprint this note she sent to the newsroom. Here it is, in case you missed it (and for those of you wanting to post your farewell on this blog, send it to me):

I want to thank all of you for six terrific years during which I was thrilled at seeing your great stories, columns, photos, graphics, layouts and headlines in this newspaper and on our Web site, day after day. How you all pull that off so well is nothing short of amazing; it's what makes the life of an editor worthwhile.


Thanks also for continuing to produce quality journalism under the duress of budget cuts and downsizing, and for embracing the Internet as a place for enhancing your work through podcasting, videocasting and photo essays.


Phil Bronstein recruited me from the LA Times with a promise that I would have a lot more fun here, and there have been many wonderful moments. I have loved the spirit of this place, the energy of the staff, the friendships I have made and the good work that has made me proud to be an editor here.


I am heading off to finish the book I am co-writing with Mary Tillman about her son, Pat; our deadline is Oct. 1. After that, I come up for air. My e-mail address is nzacchino@gmail.com. Please stay in touch.


Ciao,
Narda

Guild providing another unemployment workshop

From Kathleen Rhodes: If you are leaving The Chronicle under the downsizing agreement (Guild or exempt) -- this workshop will give you pretty much all you need in the transition in the area of unemployment.

The Guild is providing through the California Employment Development Department, U.S. Department of Labor and One-Stop Career Link Centers another workshop to help those of us in transition out of the Chronicle with information on unemployment etc. The workshop will be held in the Guild office conference room Wednesday July 18 at 2 p.m. You will need to register for this session. If you can not attend be aware we will have future sessions.


Meet with us to get information about ...
· Unemployment insurance
· Job placement assistance
· Resume and interview assistance
· Free job training in the Bay Area
· COBRA & HIPPA Health Care Benefits


You must register for this workshop:
· Kathleen Rhodes x 7217 or cell 408-674-2625 krhodes@sfchronicle.com
· Margo Brenes, Guild Office, 415-421-6833 mbrenes@mediaworkers.org


Specifics:
· Wednesday, July 18, 2007
· 2:00 PM
· GUILD OFFICE 433 NATOMA ST. SAN FRANCISCO
· ROOM: 3RD FLOOR