Copy Editor Finds Job!

Jim Berg creates web site to find job as copy editor on daily newspaper, and finds employment at the Ventura County Star

LOS ANGELES - In an effort to get a job as a copy editor, Jim Berg created this web site. After a month of searching and making himself a general nuisance to managing editors across the country, he has landed a job at the Ventura County Star. "I was prepared to go to anyplace in the country," Berg says, "and I get a job only an hour north of where I currently live."



I have created this web site as a tool to help me to get a job as copy editor on a daily newspaper. The following describes my recent work history. The text contains links to other pages that have more information. For the table of contents, click here.

I created my first job in journalism in 1993 by starting a monthly community magazine called NoHo Magazine. It was very much a starving-artist endeavor—severely under capitalized, but rich in vision and enthusiasm. From an editorial perspective, NoHo Magazine was very successful. From month to month, the quality of the writing and the layout design improved. Unfortunately, the advertising did not keep up and the magazine had to fold after nearly two years.

Using skills that I acquired while working on the magazine, I eventually got a job as manager of corporate communications for MiniMed Inc., a medical device manufacturer. I edited and supervised production of the marketing newsletter, employee newsletter and the annual report to shareholders. I also developed print advertising and public relations programs.

I left the job last June and I am now making my way back to journalism. I can write and edit a clear, interesting, well-constructed news story. It has been said that good copy editors are born, not made. That is true in my case because I have a natural talent and affection for language. I actually enjoy exploring and working out the nuances of words and how they are strung together to create news. I am not a bookworm, however, and I see the newsroom as an arena where language meets the real world in a struggle for meaning. That is a contest in which I want to participate.

Table of contents:

Resume
MiniMed page
NoHo Magazine page
Writing credits
Computer proficiency
Click here to e-mail
Contact information
Work samples

Links:

MiniMed Inc. web site