I am a former copy desk chief for The Bakersfield Californian. I previously worked as a copy editor for Gannett’s Honolulu Advertiser, and was news editor and assistant city editor for Pacific Stars & Stripes while working for the Department of Defense at Hardy Barracks in Roppongi, the No. 1 entertainment district of Japan.
I grew up in Mill Valley, attended San Francisco State University, and have been around long enough to have worked on IBM Selectrics and old Royals...
Some of the highlights of my time in Japan:
Speeding around like a madman through the highways and byways of Tokyo early in the the morning while racing from Yokota Air Base in Fussa to work, five days a week. It was quite an experience. Returning was a different story: Something as simple as a driver’s flat tire could throw the whole roadway into gridlock. There were no shoulders on the highways, and the lanes were narrow. (But these freeways had a silver lining when it rained: Water quickly washed away under the slats in the road, preventing the wash-up effect you get in the United States). I also scratched up many a van while negotiating my way through some of the very tiny, windy streets of Fussa, near Yakota Air Base, where I lived the last couple of years. Some streets allowed two directions of traffic — but were only one narrow lane, meaning the person who didn’t get to the midway point first was forced to put their vehicle in reverse and go back, back, back. Other streets were were so narrow that just trying to get by someone coming in the opposite direction gave you about an inch of space — I invariably brushed up against a light pole or fence. Luckily it was all someone else’s insurance.
Enjoying REAL sushi — big, sweet pieces of flesh cut from a freshly cut fish by a master chef while you watch. The prices, especially at lunch or the kaitensushi (sushi plates on a revolving conveyer), were extremely cheap. Sushi in this country is overpriced and of poor quality generally ...
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ON EDITING
A copy editor is “possessed of the rare capacity to sit all day in a small cubicle, like a monk in a cell, and read with an almost penitential rigor.”
—David Leavitt
American author
Copy editors are also the offensive linemen of the newsroom — they push obstacles out of the way so that writers can excel. Running backs give their linemen watches, but copy editors are lucky just to get their name mentioned in the “Contact Us” section of the newspaper’s Web site. All stories longer than briefs should include “Edited by” tag lines.
SUMMARY
Innovation
Rewrote the Bakersfield Californian stylebook, which had not been updated in seven years. New edition, more of a fact book because it details key area decision makers and important local issues, is now integrated online with AP’s stylebook. Reintroduced weekend budget meetings and created tests to screen copy desk candidates. Published Web site that allowed copy editors to check daily and vacation schedules and find tips on writing headlines and cutlines.
Ambition
Worked in essence as city editor, copy editor and slot person to shepherd 3-part series on the state prison system for The Honolulu Advertiser. Wrote all A1 headlines and made sure photos and graphics jibed with text. Identified errors and inconsistencies in stories and cutlines upon inheriting project a week before publication. Worked with reporter, who spent six months on project, to elevate story quality. Ensured editing met with reporter’s approval.
Leadership
Promoted to news editor for Pacific Stars & Stripes several months after arriving in Tokyo. Managed 10-person copy desk, ran budget meeting, chose wire content, designed A Section, and ensured deadlines were enforced. Being on time was critical: Papers had to be on plane early for flights to bases throughout Honshu island, Okinawa, South Korea and Guam.
Attention to Detail
Is it invoke or evoke? Flaunt or flout? Pour or pore? Gauntlet or gantlet? Do you have a problem or a dilemma? Words must be used correctly.
EXPERIENCE
October 2005-December 2006
Copy Desk Chief, The Bakersfield Californian
Responsibilities
As slot person, ensured stories were grammatically and factually correct, that headlines were accurate and reflected article, and that first-day headlines didn’t accompany second-day stories. Worked with city desk to quickly edit and move breaking stories to our Web site.
Achievements
• Helped establish paper’s innovative new design.
• Helped others on desk improve their heads and cutlines.
• Proofed sports pages to help meet deadline.
• Caught errors overlooked by others.
February 2001-October 2005
Copy editor, The Honolulu Advertiser
Responsibilities
Edited stories, wrote headlines, proofed pages. Often worked as wire editor while working on Advertiser’s afternoon edition, suggesting Page 1 stories and choosing content for inside pages. Filled in as slot while a member of the night crew.
Achievements
• Submitted to Executive Editor Saundra Keyes report on how editing and writing could be improved.
• Remained sharp by writing stories in my spare time or when work was slow.
June 1997-Jan. 2001
News editor/assistant Pacific Desk editor, Pacific Stars & Stripes,
Tokyo. NF-4, GS-10
Responsibilities
As news editor, chose Page 1 story lineup, decided which local stories made the cover, culled wires, and ensured ancient pagination system was running well. As assistant Pacific Desk editor, edited and rewrote copy; spoke with reporters and photographers stationed in Okinawa, Mainland Japan, Guam, South Korea; and proofed pages.
Achievements
• One of select few chosen to remain in Tokyo and work on Pacific Desk after most newsroom positions were shifted to Washington.
• Helped lead newsroom on the many occasions that we were without an executive editor.
March 1998-January 2001
Translator, Prov Communications, Yotsuya, Tokyo
Turned rough English translations from leading nightly Japanese TV news program into short captions on deadline. Sent work to New York station immediately for broadcast throughout United States. Worked with native-Japanese translators who gave brief synopsis of news; we quickly turned information into precise subtitles.
June 1994-June 1997
Copy editor/state news editor, The Bakersfield Californian
Designed local, state and business sections; filled in as slot chief; wrote headlines. Worked with Tom Gordon, who later became business editor of the Fresno Bee and now works as team leader for the Orange County Register, to put out deadline pages on new pagination system for the first time.
June 1989-June 1994
Copy editor, Inland Valley (Calif.) Daily Bulletin
Laid out local section; was one of four people in newsroom chosen to help study and implement new pagination system and teach it to others. Held frequent training sessions to help other copy editors understand complexities of our new system and make recommendations to enhance workflow.
Worked as assistant sports editor for Camarillo (Calif.) Daily News and Oxnard (Calif.) Press-Courier. Covered 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Both papers now defunct.
EDUCATION
• College of Marin, Kentfield, Ca., Journalism
• San Francisco State University, Journalism (left school early in final year to take job as assistant sports editor. Plan to get degree)
