StribGuild

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

Janet Moore Buyouts

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

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

Public Affairs Consultant

Blue Cross/Blue Shield/MN

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

Janet Moore Buyouts

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

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

From: Barnes, Nancy
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010 9:52 AM
To: Moore, Janet
Cc: Mike Sweeney; Klingensmith, Michael; Sanchez, Rene; Schafer, Bob; Chanen, David; Drew, Duchesne
Subject: RE: Copy/Letter from the Guild

Dear Janet,

Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. I know you have the interests of your members at heart.

We worked for many weeks on the plans to reorganize the newsroom, taking into account the advice of many Guild members including senior copy editors, line editors, photo editors and designers. Our cuts are occurring two months later than the rest of the company, in part, because we knew this work required extra care. This is very painful for all of us. However, the plan that we came up with, we believe, is in the best long-term interests of the newsroom and the company. For that reason, we are going to decline the request to extend the buyout to other skill sets.

This reduction requires a reorganization of the way we do our work. That means elimination of some jobs, and creation of  different jobs to meet the needs of the new workflows. We have posted those jobs as required by our contract. The end result, however, will be the same. We expect to eliminate approximately 30 jobs in total.

In planning the reorganization, we have taken care to adhere to the agreements we have made over the years with regards to job transfers, postings, schedule changes, etc., with regards to all members of the newsroom and we will continue to do so.

I have asked Bob, who handles labor relations for the newsroom, to be available to meet with you Monday if you have any further questions or concerns.

Best,

Nancy

Janet Moore Buyouts

January 14, 2010

Nancy Barnes

Editor, Senior Vice President

Star Tribune

425 Portland Ave.

Minneapolis, MN 55104

Hand Delivered and by Email

Dear Nancy,

Last week you outlined a series of steps the Newsroom needs to take to help make the Star Tribune a “successful information company.” Those steps include a workforce reduction of “about 30 positions” in the Newsroom, the majority of them from the Guild. They also include the painful and ill-advised elimination of an entire craft — copy editing. A-scale copy editors represent 424 years of service to the Star Tribune; we believe their loss will likely affect the quality of our newspaper and website.

While our members understand more than most of their colleagues across the country the difficult challenges facing our industry and this institution, we believe the fallout from the impending job cuts will be devastating to our newspaper and website. We are formally requesting that you broaden the buyout offer to include all job titles, including reporting, under Section 7, Article 13 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement in an effort to mitigate that pain. We understand that you are averse to cutting “news-gathering” positions; however, we believe that retaining some editing and production positions would make the transition to a smaller operation smoother and less traumatic to those employees remaining.

In addition, we understand that you plan to place at least two managers in the Guild. Remember, the Guild contract requires first consideration of certain job classifications when filling vacant positions. When the Star Tribune board ordered cuts throughout the building several months ago, a reasonable person could conclude those reductions would be done to cut costs. However, we don’t understand how giving a manager a Guild job constitutes a job cut. Instead, it appears to be creative shell game to move the salaries into the Guild so you can claim savings on the management side.

Also, posting eight new jobs while eliminating 30 others begs the question: How many jobs will be eliminated?

Creating a smaller newsroom requires a cohesive, well-planned and executed strategy. You may have crafted these proposals, but it is up to our members to carry them out and to live with the consequences of your actions.

We would appreciate a prompt response to our request and questions. As always, Guild leadership is ready to meet with you to discuss positive solutions to the challenges facing us.

Sincerely,

Janet Moore/David Chanen

Co-chairs, Star Tribune Newspaper Guild

CC: Mike Klingensmith, publisher, Star Tribune

Mike Sweeney, chairman, Star Tribune

Janet Moore Buyouts

Colleagues,

At the session on unemployment yesterday, several members asked if someone from HR could hold a similar session on Cobra healthcare benefits. We asked Michael Seraphine in Human Resources, but he said he prefers to meet with employees one-on-one. His extension is 4096, or you can email him.

Several of you have been called in to individual meetings with management regarding impending changes in your job duties. Guild leadership has not been briefed on the reorganization. If your job is changing, it’s important to ask Management what your exact job title will be in the reorganization. This is important for seniority purposes.

The Contract states (Article XIII, No. 10) that Management must consult with employees first before they are transferred into a new job. Employees who are transferred to new Guild jobs must also receive written notice of the transfer seven calendar days prior to the effective date, and the written notice must include the reason for the transfer.

Finally, we had a great stewards meeting today, thanks to Pam Miller for organizing. If you want an update from that particular meeting, corner a steward, or ask your Guild leaders in person. We still need stewards in photo and design.

As always, keep your leaders and stewards updated. Thanks. Janet

Janet Moore/Co-chair

Janet Moore Buyouts