Name: Lisa Shaw
Title: Copy desk intern / fact checker extraordinaire for Coastal Living magazine
Website/Blog: www.lisamarieshaw.net
Location: Birmingham, AL
Tell us about your educational/professional background.
I graduated from Michigan State University in 2007 with a major in Professional Writing, emphasis in Editing and Publishing, and specializations in English and Journalism. I also have a certification in book publishing from the University of Denver Publishing Institute.
Tell us about your current job.
Fact checking is a lot of what I do, which can be best explained in this video: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/eae26bb96d.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Google searching, and lots of it. Verifying facts on company Web sites, Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce sites, etc. For stories that focus on families and their homes/businesses, I will call whoever the writer has listed as a contact person to verify name spellings and other details.
Researching and writing a story (roofing products for coastal environments, anyone?) also requires usually a day or two of Googling and phone calls. I also work with our market editor quite a bit, which means calling in products for photo shoots and then re-packing and shipping products back to companies after we’re done with them. Occasionally I write rejection letters and handle PR and reader queries.
What kinds of documents do you produce?
I produce polished, factually and grammatically correct revisions of articles that adhere to the Coastal Living style guide. I also produce original content for the magazine, as well as original content specifically tailored for the Web site. This content can be in the form of articles, slide show captions and titles, blurbs, etc.
What communication skills are needed for your job?
Communication with the editor who is assigning articles is obviously important. Also being able to communicate with readers and sources in a timely and professional manner while keeping in mind the tone and goal of CLv.
How did you prepare for your job?
My previous internships were invaluable as far as preparing me for what I would encounter in my current job. I also did a lot of research and read every copy of Coastal that I could find before my first day in the office to get a better understanding of what we publish.
List three of your favorite professional resources/references/tools and tell us why they’re your favorite.
1. Style books are a huge resource for the copy desk. Coastal Living has its own style that is based off of AP, and I use both texts frequently. Also, as far as books go: The Copyeditor’s Handbook by Amy Einsohn. It has the answer to every grammar question.
2. Google — specifically the “advanced search” function. The “site:.gov” command has made my life infinitely easier.
3. Old copies of Coastal. This is obviously very job-specific, but a lot of times going back and seeing what we’ve done in the past helps me with a current project. Because we put out so much content, repurposing old material can be essential for meeting deadlines. Back issues are also a necessity for research, because I don’t want to write 200 words on a bike trail in Rhode Island that another staff writer covered two years ago. So, to generalize: know what your company has done, and either improve on older versions or find a new angle that hasn’t been explored yet.
How do you stay up-to-date in your field?
Talking with co-workers and peers, and joining organizations like ed2010 (for those interested in magazine publishing, this is a great place to get connected, and most big cities have their own chapters — even B’ham has an ed group!). Also, e-newsletters — Publishers Lunch is a great daily that lists news, events, and job postings.
How would you define professional writing?
Hmmm… I guess a broad definition would be the ability to communicate effectively with your intended audience through a variety of mediums.
Do you have any tips to share with other professional writers/editors/designers?
Talk talk talk. To everyone. See what the people around you are doing, ask them how they like it, how they got there. And keep checking job boards to see what kind of things employers are looking for, and how/if that’s changing. Currently, my favorite job sites are journalismjobs.com and ed2010.com.
Tags: In the Workplace