Update from the Guild

March 1st, 2010

Colleagues,

A few reminders from our contract:

 

A word about unpaid FURLOUGH DAYS. You must take two before April 30. If you don’t, you’ll lose them. By then, the company will have already docked your pay.

 

A word about NIGHT DIFFERENTIAL. Yes, it’s going away, but it’s still here, in part. Through April 30, the night differential will be reduced a third. For the period May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011, it will be reduced by another third. It goes away May 1, 2011. Regarding the amounts, it’s roughly 3.5 percent of the current daily rate. The exact amounts are in the revised contract (not the peach booklet). Refer to your classification.

 

If you work after 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for an entire week or more you are entitled to the reduced amount of NIGHT DIFFERENTIAL.

 

A word about OVERTIME. All time worked in excess of 40 hours a week shall be construed as OVERTIME. So if you work a Monday- through- Friday workweek and you reach 40 hours by Thursday morning, you either get OVERTIME or take the rest of the week off. OVERTIME must be pre-approved by a Manager.

 

A word about the BUYOUTS. The deadline was Friday at 5 p.m. We should hear who was accepted, if anyone, sometime this week.

 

Other matters: A Stewards meeting is scheduled for noon March 18 in Assembly A/B. PIZZA will be served. Everyone is welcome.

 

An APPRECIATION reception will be held for our colleagues who left the Strib this year. It’s Sunday, March 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Broadway Pizza, 2025 N. West River Road, Minneapolis. Thanks to all the organizers for pulling this together.

 

 

Janet Moore/Co-Chair

 

Janet Moore Contract

CE Job Posting

February 25th, 2010

Ag Week Copy Editor

 

 

POSITION TITLE: Agweek copy editor
SUPERVISOR: Kim Deats
Scheduled hours: Full time M-F
EMAIL RESUME/APPLICATION TO:
kdeats@agweek.com
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 2010

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
Responsible for content, copy editing, headline writing, page layout and production of both wire and staff-generated copy.
Organize material and plan and design individual page layouts.
Compile market information for Agweek markets section.
Edit all copy for style, grammar, spelling, factual errors and appropriate length.
Some Web responsibilities.
Use Associated Press leaf desk to locate AP photos.
Search wires for stories to use for publication, date stories and format them for publication.
Develop a familiarity with the national, regional and local ag scene.
All other duties as assigned by Agweek editor.

QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:
College degree preferred, but will consider combination of education and previous relevant job experience.
Good typing skills and computer skills a must.
Knowledge of AP style.
Ability to multitask.
Abililty to work in noisy environment under deadline pressure.
Ability to be a team player yet work independently.
Good people/phone skills.
Excel, Quark and Web skills a plus, but not necessary.

Janet Moore Buyouts

Reporting opening

February 9th, 2010

 Job opening at AgWeek in East Grand Forks:

 

 

 

 

Job Details:

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Receive assignments and reports news leads and tips to develop story ideas.
Gathers, verifies and provides information regarding stories through interviews, observation and research.
Organizes materials, determines focus and writes stories according to prescribed editorial style and format standards.
Builds a rapport with news sources on assigned beats to develop stories and story ideas.
Respond quickly to breaking events in order to produce timely stories.
Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

College degree preferred.
Must be self-starter who can function as part of team, but work independently within a team environment.
Adept at managing time and multiple assignments.
Have an interest in and general knowledge of agriculture (prices, policy, trends, etc.).
Strong news reporting/writing skills.
Excellent communication skills.
Creativity.
Detail oriented.
Photography and online skills preferred.
Must have a valid driver’s license with a driving record that is insurable by the company.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 03/01/10

EMAIL RESUME AND PORTFOLIO TO:

Kim Deats
PO Box 6008
Grand Forks, ND 58206-6008
kdeats@gfherald.com

 

Janet Moore Buyouts

Job posting: St. Paul Dir. of Comm

February 5th, 2010

OFFICE OF MAYOR CHRIS COLEMAN
Job Opening: Director of Communications

The office of Mayor Chris Coleman is accepting resumes for the position of Director of Communications.  To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, two writing samples, (one press release, one longer form piece, preferably an example of speechwriting) and references to Bob Hume, Deputy Chief of Staff, by email (bob.hume@ci.stpaul.mn.us) no later than Friday, February 12, 2010

 Preferred qualifications:
 
1. Bachelor’s degree
2. At least two years of professional writing experience
3. Experience in speechwriting or journalism

 Job Duties:

  

  • Develop and execute comprehensive communications plan
  • Identify media opportunities
  • Serve as Mayor’s spokesperson
  • Serve as primary media contact for Coleman Administration
  • Work with other departments and public information officers on media strategy
  • Identify key messages on complex policy issues
  • Write and distribute press releases, and talking points daily
  • Develop, maintain, and regularly update the Mayor’s website and the city’s new media strategy
  • Write major speeches
  • Draft briefing memos and talking points for more than 200 public events each year.
  • Prepare and staff mayor during interviews and public events
  • Manage Mayor’s office intern program
  • Other duties as assigned

Jackie Crosby Bankruptcy

Yet another

February 5th, 2010

From Aimee Blanchette:

Here’s a job opening at the Amherst Wilder Foundation for a Senior Communications Specialist.

http://www.wilder.org/1001.0.html

Janet Moore Buyouts

The problem with Smartphones

February 5th, 2010

From Karolynn Delucca:

How Smartphones and Blackberries tether you to your employer:

http://www.businessknowhow.com/manage/smartphones.htm

Janet Moore Contract

Still more jobs

February 5th, 2010

From Vince Tuss:

 

Smart Brief is a service in Washington, D.C. that works on newsletters targeted toward industries. It hires copy editors, some of them to work remotely. Its website: www.smartbrief.com

 

I know the supervisor there, Jennifer McNally, from my work in the American Copy Editors Society, and I ask if she was hiring, with all the people losing jobs here. She says to email your resume to jmcnally@smartbrief.com

 

More about Jenn and the Smart Brief management: http://corp.smartbrief.com/about/board.jsp

 

And here’s another job:

http://www.journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1145834&utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed

 

 

Janet Moore Buyouts

Another job opening

February 3rd, 2010

Public Affairs Consultant

Blue Cross/Blue Shield/MN

https://bcbsmn.taleo.net/careersection/bcbs_pro/jobdetail.ftl

Janet Moore Buyouts

For those departing

February 2nd, 2010

The Guild office received this inquiry:

Sir or Madam –
 
I have recently read that the Star Tribune in Minnesota laid off a number of Copy Editors.  I am looking to hire a number of contract Copy Editors to copy edit web marketing content.  Do you know who would be able to put me in touch with those individuals laid off?  I would then be able to provide them with a more detailed job description include the proposed pay rate.
 
Thank you for any assistance you can provide.
 
Dan Smith
 
Daniel J. Smith
Team Lead, Contractors
FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters business
610 Opperman Drive
Eagan, MN 55123
(651) 848-4880
 
www.findlaw.com

Janet Moore Buyouts

Copy editing job opening

February 1st, 2010

Ben Welter passes this along:

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock is accepting resumes for an entry-level position on its news copy desk. Our focus is on newspaper excellence. We offer a newsroom where copy editors can concentrate on honing their editing and headline-writing skills. Our daily news hole is enviable in its space for international, national and local news.

The successful candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field and the hands-on experience of at least one copy-editing internship. He/she must know grammar and Associated Press style; be able to write accurate, attention-grabbing headlines; and pass our copy-editing test. 

Resumes, including a list of job references, should be directed to: Sandra Tyler, news editor, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203 or to styler@arkansasonline.com. Phone: (501) 378-3886.

Janet Moore Buyouts