Writing Team: Chris (p91-104), Kristen (p77-91)
Review Team: Luke, Mike, Emily

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A reading and writing exercise that will help you create your socially motivated website.

Instructions:

1. Start out by taking reading notes for each of the chapter sections listed directly below.
2. Turn your reading notes into one-sentence stage summaries of the chapter sections
3. Combine your stage summaries to create a first-draft summary of the reading
4. Revise your draft until have produced a polished summary of the assigned reading
5. Delete your reading notes, one-sentence stage summaries, and rough draft(s)

reading notes

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Path 1: Writing, Editing, and Publishing

Definition of the Career Path

All English career paths rely heavily on English skills, but they don't all focus on the same skill sets or areas of expertise. Variations may emphasize the values of

• technical aspects of writing
• style
• critical skills in reducing...
• or expanding a written piece
• accuracy, facts and details
• taking dense or complicated writing and making it clear to the average reader
• understanding author intentions so as to adequately select companion art (illustrations, book covers, typefaces, etc.)

Multiply these different realizations of writing, editing, and publishing by the number of industries available and one sees a vast field of job opportunities.
Remember to network; when you find a field that interests you, contact your alumni association or career office. Ask to visit or "shadow" someone at work. If you have this opportunity, pay attention to

• the work pace
• the nature of their duties and assignments
• work climate

Try the job on yourself, then go back and research

• hiring employers
• pay
• outlook for employment

Develop a solid base to begin exploring the fields by adding your

• own values and interests
• objective evaluation of past experience
• skills in major

Commitment to one area may not be bad. There are many crossover skills that overlap numerous jobs. Experience in a different field may add to your value as an employee.

Reporting

This work attracts applicants due to it being

• challenging
• ever-changing
• fast pace

Reporters are ahead of the general public and must commit to communicating and informing the news.
Reporters can work in corporate or more traditional news organizations.

Working Conditions

Abundant stress occurs due to

• deadlines of time and space
• several reporters working together on different schedules
• juggling several assignments at once

Reporting involves

• myriad assignments
• myriad deadlines
• significant telephone work
• road time
• desk time

Training and Qualifications

Promising reporters need

• writing skills
• ability to work under pressure
• intelligence
• quickness
• desire to succeed
• dedication
• aggressiveness
• willingness to ask the difficult questions
• ability to think ahead
• planning
• thoroughness

Earnings

In a corporate setting, reporters are often found in the Public Relations department. Entry-level salaries for small to mid-size firms having PR departments range from $33,000 - $36,000 (mediabistro.com).
Starting weekly pay for news organizations range from $387.50 - $1,264 (newsguild.org).

Editing

In newspapers: usually rise up from reporting ranks
In publishing: groomed to work on particular materials or with specific authors
Editors make important decisions about what stays and what goes in published writing. They must be able to

• make decisions
• be comfortable and stick with them
• provide guidance
• oversee operation and birth of printed product
• understand what is appropriate for publication

Duties may include double checking facts and statistics.
Position titles include:

• Editorial Assistant
• Assistant Editor
• Associate Editor
• Editor
• Copyeditor
• Senior Editor

Working Conditions

Editing well requires

• no distractions
• taking on the writer's persona
• careful concentration
• making what changes need to be made
• anonymity

Writer's will appreciate the work done, but most reader's don't realize the work the editor has done.

Training and Qualifications

2 abilities are necessary for editorial work

1. see the overall picture
2. make quick decisions

The editor represents the publisher and must balance artistic judgment against institutional goals and considerations.
Duties include:

• assigning work (newspaper)
• maintaining flowchart of assignments and deadlines (newspaper)
• working closely with author (book)
• being involved in the publication process

Skill sets to have:

• superior communication skills (verbal and written)
• strong interpersonal skills
• experience
• judgment

Earnings

At the time of this publication, the American Society of Business Publications Editors' salary survey showed junior-level editing positions starting at $30,300.
Publisher's Weekly publishes an annual salary survey, check the latest survey available for the most up-to-date salary information.

Researching

Research provides the framework for many written works and can be an essential part of the outline for particular projects.
It utilizes the training we undergo in college

• writing
• critical judgment
• investigative skills

that have been developed through analytical and research paper writing.
Most writing - even fiction - needs research support.

Working Conditions

Training and Qualifications

Earnings

Creative Writing

Creative writing is the work of those who write from their own inspiration. It is not simply limited to novelists, but can include

• lyricists
• songwriters
• poets
• and others

Most of these writers have something they feel strongly about and wish to express it to the world, be it through song, verse, or prose.
While there are some employers out there, creative writers often work freelance, meaning they are self-employed, and will find another "day job" to help support themselves.

Working Conditions

Training and Qualifications

Earnings

Career Outlook

Strategy for Finding the Jobs

Decide what interests you and focus on it

Create a specialized list of employers

Use all your experience

Possible Employers

Newspapers

Help in Locating These Employers

General Circulation Magazines

Help in Locating These Employers

Trade, Technical, and Professional Newspapers and Magazines

Help in Locating These Employers

Agricultural Newspapers and Magazines

Help in Locating These Employers

Targeted-Population Newspapers and Magazines

Help in Locating These Employers

College and University Newspapers and Magazines

Help in Locating These Employers

Radio Stations

Help in Locating These Employers

Television Stations

Help in Locating These Employers

Cable Systems

Help in Locating These Employers

Book Publishers

Help in Locating These Employers

University Presses

Help in Locating These Employers

Federal Government

Help in Locating These Employers

Possible Job Titles

Related Occupations

Professional Associations for Writers, Editors, and Publishers

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stage summaries

rough draft

polished summary