Job Opportunities & Resources

• Inkling, a new company developing textbooks for the iPad, has openings for an editorial assistant, a digital content production manager, and more. Check out the full listing at www.inkling.com/jobs.
• Twitter is hiring a technical writer to work on the Twitter engineering blog. Applicants should take pride in clear, concise prose; have an eye for metaphor and visual documentation; and be active Twitter users.
• Are you a student in Michigan who is interested in microblogging, analytics, and social networks? TechSmith has a social media internship for you.
• Mango Languages is hiring a full-time interactive designer. The digital language learning company is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
• The New York Times has fall internships available in multimedia. They are seeking a front-end interactive designer, a motion design storyteller, and an interactive flash journalist.
• NPR is looking for a web editor, interactive designer, marketing manager, and several other positions in D.C. and California. Check out the full list here.
• There are several communications jobs and internships available at PBS in Arlington, Virginia. Check out their job database for position and application details.
• The Atlantic needs a design intern in New York City to create marketing materials and in-book comps. Applicants must be current students or recent graduates.

Inspiration

• Quite Strong: This collaborative of five talented, Chicago-based females recently launched a website. It’s full of inspiration, from the site design to the projects to the ladies themselves.
• Showcase of Single Page Websites: Web Designer Depot has a great collection of innovative single-page designs that make the most out of the format.

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What is 140+ Tweet Feed? It’s where we share our top tweets every week — news, tips, resources, and articles about professional writing, editing, and design — in more than 140 characters. Let us know about other great links on Twitter or in the comments.

The Espresso Book Machine makes it possible to “print over 3 million titles or any author manuscript within minutes.” Hello, self-publishing.

Job Opportunities & Resources

• Bloomberg has posted 20 editorial positions for a new web-based information product that will report on, analyze and quantify the impact of government actions on business and industry. The jobs are in DC and include graphics editor and editorial assistant.
• Want to work for Facebook? The social networking site is now hiring for several positions in design and user experience, communications, and software engineering.
• The University of Chicago is looking for a graphic designer (job #085372) with magazine/newsletter design and layout experience.

Recommended Reading

• What advice would you give to a design student?: Designer Frank Chimero sums up what he knows about graphic design, including words of wisdom like “[t]he best communicators are gift-givers” and “Design is just a language, it’s not a message.”
• An Open Letter to New Graduate Students: In this article for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Brian Croxall covers the unwritten rules, norms, and quirks of academia for students just beginning graduate school.

Tools & Resources

• Learn Web Design: Think Vitamin has a slew of free web design tutorial videos to help beginners learn about web design. The videos cover HTML5, jQuery, Ruby on Rails, and more.
• Design Is History: Created by designer Dominic Flask as part of his graduate thesis, this site gives a great overview of centuries of design as well as a list of additional resources to learn about design.

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What is 140+ Tweet Feed? It’s where we share our top tweets every week — news, tips, resources, and articles about professional writing, editing, and design — in more than 140 characters. Let us know about other great links on Twitter or in the comments.

Job Opportunities & Resources

• Gowalla has several openings right now, including digital illustrator, university coordinator, and developers. Gowalla also wants to hear from anyone doing great work on the web, so if you’re a designer, writer or simply doing crazy, adventurous stuff with a mind for greatness, get in touch.
• Lowercase Capital is in need of a Cowpoke/Intern. Check out the fun listing to get an idea of what this technology start-up investing company is all about.
• DBA in New York City is looking for a graphic design intern who is versatile, good with type, and understands the basic stylistic guidelines of the company.
• Tips for maintaining your CV: The Chronicle of Higher Ed has an open thread going about how to keep your CV up to date and easy to revise.

Recommended Reading

• No One Nos: Learning to Say No to Bad Ideas: Why is it so difficult to say no when it comes to our work? Learn how and when to say no to bad ideas in this A List Apart article by UX design consultant Whitney Hess.

Tools & Resources

• 10 solutions to easily create your online portfolio: If you are in need of a portfolio but don’t want to build one from scratch, check out this roundup of available platforms that are great for both coding novices and experts.
• What managers look for in designer/developer portfolios: Cameron Moll shares why it’s so important for designers and developers to show complete creative processes in their portfolios, not just end products.
• A style guide for PHP developers: Design Luv offers this style guide for PHP developers who want to improve their coding style and improve overall readability using conventional formatting methods.
• Business Card Design Starter Kit: Need business cards? Smashing Magazine has put together a great kit to get you started, including samples, tutorials, and templates.

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What is 140+ Tweet Feed? It’s where we share our top tweets every week — news, tips, resources, and articles about professional writing, editing, and design — in more than 140 characters. Let us know about other great links on Twitter or in the comments.

Two weeks’ notice and a letter of resignation—that’s what quitting your job usually entails. But last Monday, people rallied behind two very different methods: an emergency slide and a whiteboard.

The first story that caught the media’s attention was that of JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater. Here was an employee who had worked in the industry for 20 years, but an altercation with a passenger after landing led to expletives over the intercom and a dramatic exit via the plane’s emergency slide. Slater was later arrested and charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.

The second story was of assistant Jenny, who quit by taking photographs of herself using a whiteboard to explain why, and then emailing the photos to the entire office. The photos told the story of a young woman trying to work her way up in a brokerage firm, but finally got fed up with her sexist boss. It wasn’t long before the “whiteboard girl” was exposed as a creative prank.

We’ve all had jobs we haven’t loved, which is why these stories resonated with so many. These are people who did what many dream of doing, and they were lauded as heroes for not only quitting jobs that they hated, but for doing so in a way that could not be ignored. It was Office Space come to life, and like the comedy, both stories generated laughs and cheers. It didn’t matter that one of them wasn’t even real.

But what about professionalism?

Even on days when we don’t like our jobs, bosses, customers or coworkers, there is still the need to be a professional. “Jenny” isn’t real, but Slater is, and he has already said he wants his job back. Yet his 20 years of experience are now overshadowed by a single day’s actions.

While quitting a job is never easy and emotions often come into play, taking a moment to put business etiquette first will reward you longer than 15 minutes of infamy. If you’re going to make an exit, do it professionally. That’s style.

Job Opportunities & Resources

• OptionsXpress, an online brokerage based in Chicago, is looking to hire a PR copywriter. This job involves writing and editing marketing communications and website content, and applicants should have some experience with both print and digital media.
• Kettle is looking for a front-end developer. The NYC interactive agency needs someone with 1-2 years of experience hand coding HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• If you’re interested in “rewriting the rules of digital marketing”, check out the several positions at Oneupweb in Traverse City, MI. Positions include interactive web developer and SEO strategist.
• Elizabeth Spiers, media launch consultant, entrepreneur, and writer extraordinaire, needs new interns. Learn more about Spiers and the work she does to see if you’re a good fit.

Recommended Reading

• Lazy Hammer: What do dinosaurs have to do with design collaboration? Frank Chimero explains in a call for designers to use their skills to work with others to create new things.

Publishing

• Audio pioneer buys Newsweek: After two and a half months since the announcement that Newsweek was on the market, the Washington Post Company has found a buyer: Sidney Harman. The entrepreneur and founder of Harman International Industries says he is eager to take on the challenge of keeping the newsweekly running.
• Barnes & Noble Considers Possible Sale: Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest book retailer with 720 stores across the US, is exploring its options as share prices continue to drop. The company has formed a committee to determine its next step, and aren’t ruling out the possibility of a sale.
• Mass Paperback Publisher Goes All Digital: Publishers continue to adapt to the changing landscape of the industry, and the latest news is of Dorchester Publishing Inc., one of the country’s oldest mass paperback publishers, abandoning its traditional print books and making its titles available in digital format and print-on-demand only.

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What is 140+ Tweet Feed? It’s where we share our top tweets every week — news, tips, resources, and articles about professional writing, editing, and design — in more than 140 characters. Let us know about other great links on Twitter or in the comments.

This summer, we launched the first edition of our Portfolio Showcase series, featuring the online portfolios of writers, editors, and designers. Today we’ll take a quick look back at the visual inspiration, design processes, and creative advice they shared. Click on the respective thumbnail to read the complete showcase.

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Sacha Greif, web designer | sachagreif.com

[Set] your goals first. Do you want to get new clients? Raise your profile by writing witty blog posts? Target a special niche? Get hired? If you’re not sure, the easiest and safest route is always to put your work forward. [...] potential clients want to see your work, not become your best friend or comment on your blog.

Matthew Allard, fiction writer | matthewallard.com

Start sending people to your portfolio site! Business cards are an affordable take-away. Super easy. I know they seem like something reserved for a company man. But you are the CEO of yourself. You are the product/brand to someone who may want your work or expertise.

Joe Sak, web developer | joesak.com

For me, the writing is the centerpiece of my portfolio. It aims to communicate effectively and comprehensively my contribution to the teams and clients I have had the pleasure of working with. [...] Pick your favorite work, write about it freely, don’t nitpick yourself to death, and just start sharing with others.

Sarah Jackson, designer & illustrator | sarahjackson.ca

[...] more than anything else, I needed my site to reflect me: my personality, my quirks, my uniqueness! Opposed to what some people may believe, I think that clients hire people, not just skills. Generally they hire someone that they know can do the job AND that they will like to work with.

Victoria Pater, graphic designer | victoriapater.com

[...] find a platform that works for you (whether if be WordPress, Indexhibit, Cargo, or Squarespace), then customize it. They have all the main elements you need, plus the social and community aspects are already built in.

Kristen Byers, designer & writer | kristenbyers.net

Remember that your digital portfolio is an ongoing process — it’s never really “done”. I have found that the best time to work on my portfolio (and resume, for that matter) is when I’m not actively seeking employment. That way the pressure is off and I feel much more relaxed about my design and content decisions.

Grace Smith, freelance web designer | postscript5.co.uk

If you’re not giving an overview of each piece of work in your portfolio, you are missing a valuable opportunity to showcase your skills and expertise on each particular project. You don’t need to write an essay, but it’s your chance to shine by giving some details that will allow each potential client to appreciate each piece not just on an aesthetic level, but on a practical client project level too.

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Thank you to all the featured professionals for sharing with us! We will be featuring more portfolios this fall, so if you would like to share your portfolio or one that has inspired you, please share links in the comments or email us.

Job Opportunities & Resources

• NPR is looking for a Senior Interactive Designer to join their Digital Media team in DC. This job requires expert-level Photoshop and Illustrator skills, excellent communication skills, and knowledge of typography, color theory, usability, and web design.
• Ziba, a design and innovation consultancy in Portland, OR, has several openings right now, such as communications designer and interaction designer. Visit their career page to see all current jobs.
• 37signals is hiring an iOS/mobile developer who can help enhance current applications and build more. Applicants should have experience developing and shipping iOS applications, and knowledge of Ruby on Rails is a plus.
• Think Detroit PAL is looking for a communications officer to support media relations, marketing, and social media strategy. The ideal candidate will have excellent writing skills and familiarity with social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
• If you’re interested in WordPress design or programming, check out WP Jobs, a job board and career resource site for the WordPress community.

Recommended Reading

• A Real Web Design Application: Jason Santa Maria started a conversation about the tools used for web design last week, calling for the need for an application that fills the void between designing in a browser and designing in a desktop app.
• Designing for iPad: Derek Powazek shares what he learned about designing for iPad while leading MagCloud’s iPad app design team.

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What is 140+ Tweet Feed? It’s where we share our top tweets every week — news, tips, resources, and articles about professional writing, editing, and design — in more than 140 characters. Let us know about other great links on Twitter or in the comments.

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I’ve been thinking a lot about editing lately, as a conversation started by smart people continues to rattle around in my brain. My own experience as an editor has run the gamut from “pinch me, I’m dreaming” collaborations to “what have I gotten myself into?” moments. One thing I’ve learned is that being an editor requires a dedication to educating people about what you do and why it matters.

If you ask someone what an editor does, you’ll hear words like grammar, flow, style, accuracy, spelling, and tone, among others. Editors strive for perfection from behind the scenes, and if you are great at what you do, you are invisible.

No one will look at an edited article and think, I am certain that, once upon a time, there was a double quote where there should have been a single, and a wise person fixed the issue for my benefit. But if you let a “their” slip through in the place of a “there,” you are a complete moron.
— “What It’s Really Like to be a Copy Editor“

But editors are more than real-life spellcheckers and grammar police — real editors ship:

These are people who are good at process. They think about calendars, schedules, checklists, and get freaked out when schedules slip. Their jobs are to aggregate information, parse it, restructure it, and make sure it meets standards. They are basically QA for language and meaning.

This is only a small snippet from an article by Paul Ford that I consider a must-read for both editors and non-editors — the former because it offers language for explaining the many facets of the role, and the latter because it speaks to how important an editor is to the content process.

But sometimes words aren’t enough. How can something like editing be conveyed in a way that syncs with conventional performance (aka value) measurement tools? Enter a survey by Writing for Digital that sought to answer that very question. The result: when it comes to web copy, “well edited pages do 30 percent better than unedited pages.” That is a huge margin that quantifies an editor’s skills in a way that companies can understand.

Yet even when I explain how editing is a part of the larger process, or that well-edited content ties in to the overall perception of a company’s brand, there are times I feel it is still seen as a skill that anyone can do with limited time, resources, and reward. I don’t think this is a unique battle; I think it’s the same one that designers are fighting when it comes to spec work or clients who expect quality but cheap design. So why does the devaluation continue?

Earlier this year, The Washington Post addressed an increase in errors in its copy, citing reduced staff and the changing duties of editors in regards to the online space. This is just one example of content suffering, and Alexis Madrigal, senior editor and lead technology writer for The Atlantic, suggests that letting the quality of content hit rock bottom is the only way editing can make a comeback:

We take good roads for granted in the US; our highway system just works, so you start to think of it almost as geology, almost immutable and close to eternal. But if you take a drive on the backroads of the Yucatan, the forest encroaches, large potholes appear out of nowhere, and the signage is indecipherable, regardless of your level of Spanish.

The Internet can feel like a jungle, and journalists are in the business of providing paths through the territory. Writers might blaze the trails, but editors maintain the roads. The vines are creeping and the potholes are growing. And maybe letting the road deteriorate is really the only way to make audiences and media companies realize the value of those whose names do not appear underneath the headline.

Maybe Madrigal is right. Maybe it will take more bad “roads” before people start to value editors again. But to not fight the perception that editors are expendable would be a mistake requiring more than red ink to correct.

Job Opportunities & Resources

• Lansing Symphony is looking for a new Marketing & Development Director. Job requirements include 2-5 years in marketing and/or fundraising, excellent communication skills, and a passion for music and the arts.
• The Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, AL is looking for a writer/associate editor. This position is a part of the Teaching Tolerance project, which includes a semiannual magazine and website. Applicants should have experience with writing and editing for both print and digital publications.

Recommended Reading

• The Web Means the End of Forgetting: This New York Times Magazine article was widely circulated last week, and rightly so—it’s all about reputation, privacy, and permanence in the digital age.
• See no boundaries: In this short essay, Liz Danzico talks about why learning to see no boundaries while designing for people is a valuable lesson for young designers.

Publishing

• E-books, the Kindle, and Publishing: The biggest publishing news this past week was mainly driven by Amazon. First the company reported e-books for the Kindle are outselling hardcovers. Then Amazon acquired exclusive rights to publish 20th century classics on the Kindle in what is being called Odyssey Editions. This deal with the Wylie Agency quickly prompted strong reactions from the industry.

Tools & Resources

• Designing Style Guidelines for Brands and Websites: Smashing Magazine covers why developing a style guide for your websites can help protect your design after you deliver it. They also offer several examples of what you should include in your guide, from typography to CSS naming conventions.
• Flipboard: If you own an iPad and are an avid user of social media, check out Flipboard. This free app turns your Facebook and Twitter content into a “personalized, social magazine.” There is currently a waiting list in place to handle the high level of interest, so if you weren’t among the early downloaders, you’ll have to reserve a spot.

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What is 140+ Tweet Feed? It’s where we share our top tweets every week — news, tips, resources, and articles about professional writing, editing, and design — in more than 140 characters. Let us know about other great links on Twitter or in the comments.