Writer's Week
Sept. 8, 2015
Deadline for next edition Sept. 18

President's Message
Kaye Spector - high res
Kaye Spector
It's Labor Day, and I am thinking about unions and journalists.
 
Recent news out of New York City is that the digital workers at Al Jazeera America are attempting to unionize in an attempt to resolve grievances with management. Their concerns include: how people get raises, chain-of-command issues, and working together across departments, reports James Warren of Poynter's MediaWire blog.
 
Al Jazeera America's digital workers are among a number of digital news workers to go union in recent months.
 
Perhaps most visible was the vote in June by the 100-plus workers at Gawker Media to join the Writers' Guild of America, East. These writers and editors work for such well-known web sites as Gawker, Gizmodo, Deadspin and Jezebel.
 
Workers said they wanted more job security, as well as transparency in decisions such as salaries and bonuses, according to PBS Newshour. The way things are now, your compensation at Gawker Media is determined by how good a deal you could cut on your own with management.
 
Journalists at other digital media properties such as Vice Media, Salon and the U.S. arm of the British newspaper The Guardian also voted to unionize this summer.
 
Do all these moves represent a turning point for internet news operations?
 
The New York Times reported that the recent spate of unionization efforts is seen by some as a "sign of maturity in a previously anarchic sector."
 
At the very least, the flurry of organizing may prompt digital newsgatherers everywhere to consider an idea that may seem suddenly relevant: workplace protections in a field that has been marked in recent years with deep uncertainty and profound upheaval.
 
Kaye Spector
President, Cleveland Pro Chapter 
This newsletter goes out to members two days earlier than to our many subscribers who are not SPJ members. This gives our members first crack at the jobs and other opportunities listed here. If you're not yet a member of SPJ, but thinking about it, check out this list of other reasons to sign up:


Bilingual journalists in demand 

Calling all bilingual journalists: The Society of Professional Journalists wants to spread its Code of Ethics around the globe. Thanks to the work of several journalists, the Code is already available in several languages, but there are many more to go. If you'd like to donate the time, we're asking people to translate the Code into other languages. While we especially need a translation in Malay, translations in Urdu, Hindi, Portuguese, Bengali, Japanese and Javanese are also in the works and could use editors. If you're willing to volunteer your time, please send email to Andrew Seaman, chair of the SPJ Ethics Committee, at

 this email


Group of event related 3D words. Part of a series.
Careers
Sept. 10 
What happens when a town loses its newspaper? A panel discussion
A panel discussion presented by the Central Ohio SPJ  chapter and Main Street Free Press Museum
in Columbus

League of Women Voters
presents
 Zephyr Teachout, author of Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin's Snuff Box to Citizen's United (Harvard University Press 2014), will visit greater Cleveland on Nov. 5-6 and speak on the history of corruption in the United States and the sources of power behind it.

She will present two lectures at different locations:

Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 pm
West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church,
20401 Hilliard Blvd. in Rocky River
Free and open to the public
Friday, Nov.6 at noon
Cleveland Marshall College of Law
Faculty Conference Room
1801 Euclid Ave. Cleveland 44115
Cleveland State University
Free and open to the public
Sept. 18-20
Excellence in Journalism 2015
The national SPJ annual conference
This year in Orlando, Florida

Click here for more info



 


Sept. 24
Cleveland Digital Publishers Users Group

Reach New Clients and Markets with Podcasting:
An Overview of Podcasting
Attend CDPUG's meeting for September to
learn what a podcast is, and about the podcast audience.
Also learn what it takes to launch a Podcast, and how to turn subscribers into clients.
An RSVP is not required  but strongly encouraged!
 Food is ordered based on the number of RSVPs received.  
 

Membership has its benefits: Quill Magazine
 
Quill is your resource from the Society of Professional Journalists to help you become a better journalist. In the Summer 2015 issue, stories included:
 
- Fail early, fail often. In Silicon Valley, failure isn't only expected, it's practically celebrated. Learn valuable lessons about your career from those who have failed and lived to tell about it.
 
- I read it on Reddit. (Get it?) Reddit is among the fastest-growing yet most misunderstood social platforms. One of the bigger tech industry stories of 2015 so far happened not only on Reddit, but about Reddit. If you missed it, you missed an opportunity to understand what the platform is all about - and how it can help journalists do their jobs.
 
 - "Ten" with Fiona Macleod. The South African investigative journalist started the non-profit outlet Oxpeckers in 2013 to provide investigative reporting on environmental topics in a region desperately lacking in such coverage. Her insights will inform and possibly inspire you spark the kind of change you've been looking to make.

And don't forget the regular slate of Toolbox columns on topics from language to ethics to freedom of information, all aimed at giving you tips on becoming a better journalist.
 
Quill is also available on the Web, where SPJ members have access to the full archive and online-only content.  
 
Job opportunities

MANAGING EDITOR
Inside Business Magazine
Cleveland, OH
DESCRIPTION:
Inside Business, a business magazine for Northeast Ohio, seeks a Managing Editor. We're looking for a versatile editor with experience in reporting, writing and editing magazine-style features. The ideal candidate will possess well-honed editing and rewriting skills, have a knack for telling engaging business stories, be detail-oriented with an affection for AP style and superior copyediting skills.  
RESPONSIBILITIES:
    • Develop, write and edit stories for Inside Business Magazine, including long-form features
    • Assign, edit and direct special awards sections
    • Prioritize multiple assignments in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
    • Manage existing social media sites, as well as monitor brand's image on social media. 
    • Work with clients to produce high-quality custom projects.
    • Copyedit all editorial pages.
    • Rewrite copy and check facts as needed.
    • Meet all editorial and production deadlines.
    • Attend occasional evening business networking events.
QUALIFICATIONS:
    • A degree in communications, journalism or a related field.
    • 3 or more years experience in newspaper, magazine or trade journalism.
    • Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills.
    • 4-6 clips that show skill at vivid magazine writing.
    • Solid grounding in journalism ethics and values.
    • Must take direction and assert ideas quickly.
    • Must have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to handle a number of projects simultaneously.
    • Professional experience as a copy or desk-level editor extremely helpful.
    • Familiarity with business writing, editing and content marketing.
    • Social media experience a plus.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Send cover letter containing salary requirements along with resume and work samples to: Editorial Department, Great Lakes Publishing, 1422 Euclid Ave. Suite 730, Cleveland, OH 44115 or email to with the Subject line of, "Managing Editor, Inside Business." No phone calls, please. Qualified candidates will be contacted.
 
Click to apply

 
CONTENT EDITOR
Cleveland based marketing firm

Our Cleveland, Ohio, content marketing firm is looking for a Content Editor to plan, coordinate and produce editorial content with an eye towards quality, creativity and accuracy.
Primary role is to serve as the managing editor for a variety of client projects and publications. The Editor will manage, edit and produce the content for clients with support from internal design, editorial, strategy and client services teams.

Required Experience
    • BA/BS in Journalism or Communications or equivalent
    •  7+ years experience as a writer or editor for publications
    • Experience interacting with clients to create positive relationships and outcomes
    • Background in a wide variety of writing styles is mandatory, including - but not limited to - marketing and public relations, web copy, long-form magazine features and whitepapers
    • Knowledge of business writing strongly preferred
    • Strong interviewing and interpersonal skills
    • Proficient in MS Word; experience with Excel helpful

Primary Responsibilities
    • Create editorial content for client publications/projects that supports the strategic goals of B2B and B2C companies and resonates with their target audiences
    • Develop positive relationships with clients and serve as a point of contact for assigned client projects
    • Write, edit and copyedit editorial content across a variety of media, on the page and online
    • Assign content to freelancers and staff writers and work with them to ensure content is on target
    • Build and nurture relationships with freelance writers, and identify freelance writers to support on editorial content projects as needed
    • Collaborate directly with in-house team of account managers, designers and staff writers to produce client deliverables on time and on budget
    • Participate in editorial brainstorming and strategy sessions with client teams and clients
    • Meet all deadlines while delivering accurate, on-brand content
    • Edit marketing materials and editorial content to ensure high quality
    • Ensure editorial content meets or exceeds client expectations
    • Review and accept/address client changes to editorial content
    • Generate and develop topic ideas for client editorial projects
    • Conduct interviews with subject matter experts to create industry-appropriate content
    • Develop a strong working knowledge of clients' businesses, with the goal of crafting thorough and impactful messaging in all content.

Submission guidelines: Please send your cover letter, resume, salary requirements and 2-3 writing samples to: 

hr.northeastoh@gmail.com. 
 

HEALTH CARE-HIGHER EDUCATION REPORTER
Crain's Cleveland Business 

Crain's Cleveland Business is seeking an energetic reporter to cover the high-profile beats of health care and higher education. This individual will have the opportunity to cover one of the country's most competitive and respected health care markets as well as an evolving higher-education space grappling with new student demands, increased government oversight and disruptive technology.

Click to apply


REPORTER -- HEARST TELEVISION
Cincinnati  
 
WLWT, the NBC affiliate in Cincinnati is looking for a dynamic storyteller who wants to join our morning news team! Show us you can enterprise, research and produce stories that compel an audience to watch. Strong writing and dynamic live shots are a must. Ability to shoot and edit video is a plus.

Job Responsibilities
In addition to reporting during newscasts throughout the week you will also be responsible for regular contributions to Cincinnati's #1 television website, wlwt.com, by both writing and posting. You must be able to incorporate all available resources, such as video, natural sound and electronic graphics to enhance stories.

Required Experience
    • A minimum of 4 years reporting experience required
    • College Degree in broadcasting or related field
Internships & Fellowships

CLEVELAND MAGAZINE 

Cleveland Magazine is looking for editorial interns for fall 2015.
 
The internships are unpaid. (We reimburse for parking or a bus pass.) They range from 16 to 32 hours a week.
 
Duties include fact-checking, researching, writing articles and blog posts, and some clerical work for Cleveland Magazine, its sister publication Inside Business, and other publications. Our interns are highly valued and are integrated into the editorial team. They are entrusted with serious responsibilities and given plenty of opportunity for professional development.
 
We're looking for bright student journalists with experience at their college newspapers or magazines. The ideal candidates also have a flair for magazine-style feature writing and knowledge of Cleveland. Blogging experience is helpful. Candidates must live or go to college in the Cleveland area (Akron, Kent, and Oberlin included). Minority candidates are encouraged to apply.
 
To apply, send a cover letter explaining what you could bring to the job, a résumé, contact info for references, the date you would be able to start, and 4-5 published samples of your work to

brill@clevelandmagazine.com

By mail, send to: Jason Brill; Associate Editor; Cleveland Magazine; 1422 Euclid Avenue Suite 730; Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

ALTERNATIVE PRESS

Alternative Press, a national music magazine published in Cleveland, is looking for interns, particularly students with experience as section editors, artists and marketing students. Their offices are at West 78th Street. See their website for more information about the magazine.
Apply by email to

internship@altpress.com  

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Writer's Week is a service of the Cleveland chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.  

This newsletter is produced by
Editor: Carrie Buchanan, assistant professor, Tim Russert School of Communication & Theatre Arts, John Carroll University,
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Phelps, broadcast journalist.

Contact us: Please send news items and job & internship postings to spjcleveland@gmail.com    
 
Chapter President: Kaye Spector, mks0511@gmail.com