“The most complete media report on birds and hurricanes I have seen."

Sometimes, writing assignments involve extensive research and taking the lead in working with team members in the assigning entity. In these instances, the assignment involves project management as well as writing. Many writers avoid project management. It is an area of experience, and I embrace it.

Examples: A water project that won a major award for three Cox Newspapers in East Texas. An import/export project for the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

Though these sound similar, they are different. Proofreading is for text considered ready for publishing that just needs a final set of eyes. Copy editing is for text that is in a draft stage and needs fact checking for errors/discrepancies and polishing for clarity/grammar to ensure it complies with company/AP/Chicago style. Example: I copyedited 600-page plus Dispute Resolution Manual for International Trade Lawyers for the Atlanta Center for International Arbitration. 

Experienced in working with communications departments that outsource executive communications, such as bios/business letters. Example: I wrote letter for a statewide utility president welcoming visitors  to the utility' s annual customer event. The letter was published in a brochure for the event. I wrote the text for the brochure. I also wrote 20 thumbnail bios of leading Atlantans that were used in a successful effort to recruit a Fortune 500 company to Atlanta.

Up-to-date company news: Example: A newly created Cox Newspaper division monthly newsletter was underwhelming and underperforming. "It needs an editor," I was told. "You are going to be its editor." I revised the design and expanded its reach from the newsroom to other newspaper departments. Interest in the newsletter quickly grew across Cox Newspapers' 44 properties in six states and the Washington Bureau. So did the size of the newsletter -- to 36 pages!

Created protocols for media messaging, including during a crisis event, in an of counsel role for several public relations agencies. Examples: developed media protocols for the Bar Code administrator in Brussels and for crisis management response for a US university of 30,000-plus students. 

Year-end reports for directors, employees,  investors, others. Example:  Wrote text for the Catholic Foundation Annual Report (coordinated layout/design).

Produced interview scripts and conducted on-camera interviews of 10 Atlanta and Georgia business and political leaders for a video project by MARTA, metro Atlanta's public transit agency, to mark the 35th anniversary of MARTA's combined bus/rail service. Among those interviewed: Former President Jimmy Carter and former Civil Rights leader and US Rep. John Lewis. MARTA used the scripts for TV spots. I then turned the video scripts into a print magazine. 

When Cox bought Mundo Hispanico, at the time the largest circulating Spanish-language newspaper between Miami and Washington, D.C., I was the lead editor who coordinated providing Mundo with services from Cox's English and Spanish language newspapers. Those services included access to a Mexico City-based Cox reporter and Cox Newspapers' advertising departments.

My work has appeared in digital and print formats, and I am comfortable working remotely, including with contacts based outside the US. I also have experience in working with other media, such as podcasts.

Have a problem? I can solve it. At Cox, I coached two relationship therapists on effective writing for a series of their columns I distributed on the New York Times News Service. They converted the columns into a book. I also coached a new reporter for a year. Six months later, she won first place in a North Carolina  AP writing contest.

Surprises happen. I have crisis communications experience in print and broadcast and am comfortable in working on tight deadlines. (See PR firms below.) Crisis rates apply. Inquire.

Magazines where my work appears most often: Georgia Trend (The magazine of Georgia business, politics and economic development since 1985); Georgia Grown (the annual magazine of the Georgia Department of Agriculture,  produced by Georgia Trend); Georgia magazine ( the magazine of the Georgia Electric Membership Cooperative). Previously: National Wildlife Federation, Mother Earth News.

Treehugger (garden-related content acquired in Treehugger's purchase of Mother Nature Network [MNN]); CNN (in equity partnership with MNN).

I have edited several books. Authors: inquire.