Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

STEVEN MICHAEL FORD
Editor, writer & communicator

13760 Blue Lagoon Way
Orlando, FL 32828
Tel: 407-737-7339 (H); 407-230-6514 (C)
steven.m.ford@gmail.com

Profile
More than 20 years experience as a journalism editor and writer. Adept at making informed decisions on how to best communicate to diverse audiences under strict deadlines. Confident in making editorial judgments focused on communication goals and audience expectations. Skilled at multiple print-communication tasks, from text editing (content and line) to non-linear video editing to social-media utilization and the effective use of Internet content-management systems. Extensive design skills, as well.

Accomplishments
• As a senior editor at four different daily newspapers, consistently edited all aspects of news, features and opinion pages to ensure that production deadlines were met; articles, headlines and photo captions were grammatically correct; copy and design were consistent in style and engaging in appearance; and quick and effortless communication was established by the newspapers for their readers.
• While serving as a slot (production) editor at each newspaper, oversaw editing, design and production issues on deadline. Directed copy editors on various editing tasks and production priorities. Worked with multiple departments and a range of staffers to ensure that daily and nightly goals were achieved efficiently for an on-time press start and with little oversight from the newspapers' top editors.
• As an associate section editor and member of the editorial board of the Orlando Sentinel, produced a high-profile weekly section devoted to complex analytical articles. Solicited opinionated and controversial topics from a variety of freelance authors, experts and policy-makers, and worked with them to produce content that was accurate and compelling. Directed production of annual election guides for statewide, gubernatorial and national political races. Produced recurring Florida Legislature guide to update readers on various state and local political issues. Created annual year-in-review section, serving as lead writer, content editor and visual editor for this high-profile edition of the newspaper.
• Researched and wrote long-form, centerpiece articles devoted to complex issues and analytical ideas. Wrote about diverse topics to address an array of reader concerns and interests.
• As a science-page editor, produced a weekly science and medicine page devoted to local and national stories of popular interest and regional importance.
• As a science-page writer, researched and reported on a variety of science topics to drive reader interest and report on issues not found elsewhere in the newspaper. Wrote about scientific issues in a way in which the topics could be understood by a general audience.
• Contributed as a writer for two different newspaper blogs, both of which boosted online readership of the Orlando Sentinel. Served as the sole "fatherhood voice" on the newspaper’s parenting site, thus expanding that blog’s relevance and readership. Was the first editor to initiate a series of videos to accompany posts for newspaper’s theme-park blog. Shot video footage, edited projects and then uploaded videos to a personal YouTube portal. The videos continue to generate traffic and comments for the paper’s tourism blog to this day, generating almost a half a million unique hits during the past couple of years.
• Helped production editors advance SEO techniques in headline writing to advance readership of the newspaper’s online component. Was one of the first print editors to learn and utilize content-management system skills to produce and archive online content consistently.
• By early monitoring of the Orlando Sentinel's online operations, reached across departmental lines to ensure that all aspects of the company achieved and maintained the editorial benchmarks of accuracy and fairness long employed by the print side, thus protecting the newspaper's branding in the community and the industry.

Qualifications
• Experienced in all aspects of writing, rewriting and editing.
• Well-versed in interviewing techniques, note-taking and story organization.
• Profoundly competent in researching topics quickly, using a variety of resources.
• Proficient in text and image design.
• Skilled in use of social-media platforms and techniques.
• Accomplished at SEO practices and familiar with several Internet CMS protocols. Basic HTML skills.
• Adept at non-linear video editing.
• Able to juggle multiple editorial projects and meet deadlines daily.
• Understand extensively the operations and demands of today's changing media landscape.
• Knowledgeable in First Amendment issues of a free press and committed to the journalistic hallmarks of accuracy, fairness and relevance.

Experience
• Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Florida, 1993 to April 2009. Key positions held: Senior editor (A1 news), associate Insight editor (editorial board), science-page editor, news desk copy editor (A1 and local news), slot editor, design editor, blogger.
• San Antonio Light, San Antonio, Texas, 1991 to 1993. Key positions: Production editor, senior copy editor.
• Beaumont Enterprise, Beaumont, Texas, 1989 to 1991. Key positions: Assistant news editor, copy editor, page designer.
• Port Arthur News, Port Arthur, Texas, 1987 to 1989. Key positions: Assistant news editor, copy editor, page designer.
• University Press, Beaumont, Texas, 1985 to 1987. Key positions: Editor, managing editor, staff writer.

Education
Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications/Journalism, 1987, Lamar University.

Awards
Headline writing, Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, second place, 2008
Front-page news design, Associated Press Managing Editors, first place, 1994
Front-page news design, Associated Press Managing Editors, first place, 1988
Various in-house awards for editing and design with Tribune and Hearst corporations.

Additional information:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmford
http://twitter.com/smfordo
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/tpr (archived posts)
http://www.youtube.com/user/StevenMichaelFord