The Power of Words

Here are some of the ways I’ll bring the power of words and images to your communications projects:

• A TRIPLE-THREAT COMMUNICATIONS PRO

Holder of a B.J. degree from the top-ranked University of Missouri School of Journalism, I’ve written millions of words on a wide range of subjects, many requiring familiarity with technology and science. I am a seasoned communicator with the ability to bring together all the facets of a successful project, whether editorial, corporate, or multi-media. I am presently vice president of the Rio Grande Chapter (New Mexico and West Texas) of the Society of Professional Journalists, of which I am a long-time member. My Blog essays won me the title of 2010 “Citizen Journalist of the Year” for SPJ’s Rocky Mountain region. In June, I’ll attend SPJ’s 2010 Ted Scripps Leadership Institute, an all-expenses-paid three-day intensive course in chapter management to be held in Indianapolis, IN (details here).

As a photographer, I’ve handled assignments across North America and throughout Europe, Asia and the South Pacific. I’m an experienced still photographer who also can provide high definition video capture. I am a life member of the American Society of Media Photographers. Here is a link to my listing on the ASMP website. My work has been used by hundreds of clients, and my stock photographs are represented worldwide  To read more about my photography capabilities and see a partial list of publications and corporations that have used my photographs, click here. Besides reporting and still photography, I am equipped to capture high definition video, giving my clients triple value.

Besides my roots in reportage and photography, I am an experienced commercial and corporate communications specialist. A long-time member of the Public Relations Society of America I am recognized by the Society as Accredited in Public Relations (APR). According to the Society’s web site, “APR is a mark of distinction for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice, and who are selected based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective, and sound professional judgment.”

Here are some details about my special capabilities and experience

• SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

In today’s technological world, it’s more challenging than ever to communicate your marketing story. Unlike most journalism majors I studied science and I’ve kept up with those interests through the years. A long-time member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, I’ve read the journal Science for decades. I’ve written extensively on global warming and climate change, resource depletion, conservation, wind and solar power, transportation and related subjects. In short, I know how to turn technical jargon into plain English. I’m presently writing on the Examiner.com on-line news site as Southwest Science News Examiner (see my bio here).

• ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

I’ve had a special lifelong interest in the fate of the Earth. My novel The Star Phoenix (see Amazon listing here) addresses the environmental threats that face humanity. During the past three years I’ve written about 400 articles on environmental and economic subjects. I’ve posted some examples on this site, under Selected Essays and Articles in the sidebar. My writings on the relationship between humanity and nature may also be seen on my weblog Star Phoenix Base here. If you are serving the fast-growing market for environmentally related products and services, I can be your freelance source in the Southwest.

• TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE

I have been a Macintosh user for twenty years. (Sorry, I don’t do Windows, but never mind because Macs can talk with PCs.) I have a close working relationship with an experienced webmaster. Together we have produced several web projects. This site, The Power of Words, was created entirely by me using Wordpress and Photoshop. In short, I’m not a geek, but I can talk with them and translate their sometimes mysterious language into English. Don’t look to me to write jargon-filled technical manuals — my strength is the ability to interpret scientific and technical concepts and explain them in simple prose that your customers or clients can understand.

• AGRICULTURE & AGRI-BUSINESS

Early in my career I was an editor for a regional farm magazine and later was a writer and editor in the advertising department of a leading manufacturer of farm and industrial equipment and trucks, at that time a Fortune 20 company and one of the Dow-Jones 30 Industrials.

Later, my Chicago-based communications agency provided a wide range of public relations and marketing communications services for a variety of farm-related clients. For more than twenty years I edited and published an external farm magazine with circulation as high as a quarter million copies for a leading maker of farm feed storage, automation and waste handling systems. I also served makers of farm machinery, seeds, dairy equipment and other agri-business products. Over the years I interviewed and wrote about hundreds of innovative farm operators across North America. I personally organized, promoted and led two “farm tours of Europe” through which more than 350 U.S. and Canadian farm folks visited fellow livestock farmers in Scotland, England, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France. For one client I authored a 274-page hardbound guide to livestock farm management. I am a member of the American Agricultural Editors Association.

• HEALTH & MEDICINE

Prior to starting my agency I was director of publications for a leading national health charity. I was responsible for writing, editing and producing all of the society’s publications, including its annual report. Later I was a freelance stringer in Chicago for Medical World News magazine. I have broad general knowledge of health issues and particularly alternative and preventive health care.

• TRAVEL

No stranger to working abroad, I’ve spent a cumulative total of about two years in Europe and several months in the Far East. Working for a group tour operator I reported on travel destinations across Europe and in China, Australia and New Zealand. I have subsequently traveled a number to times to the Far East, especially Japan, Thailand and Singapore. Between 1995 and 1997 I kept a motor home in Europe, logging about 60,000 miles there while working on a personal documentary project.

• BOOKS and WHITE PAPERS

Few things can do more to add prestige and credibility to your organization than a professionally written book. My journalistic and research skills and broad range of general knowledge makes me well-suited to handle book-length projects on subjects as diverse as corporate history, biography, how-to, motivation or personal experience. As mentioned above I have written a hardbound farm management handbook for a corporate client as well as two novels. I am presently writing a non-fiction book about industrial agriculture.

Whether full-blown hardbound books, e-books or white papers, I have the experience and writing skills to produce powerful long-text documents for your organization.

• COPY MAKEOVERS

The leaders at any organization are experts in their fields, but are seldom professional writers. I have years of experience editing and rewriting drafts produced by clients and employees of my agency. I will turn your rough copy into effective finished documents, providing a cost-effective way to give your messages power. Proposals, sales letters, reports to investors, product literature—all these and more can benefit from professional makeovers. This service can range from careful editing to complete rewrite as required. The first step will always be to review the piece and make recommendations on how best to proceed. Merely editing a bad draft would be a pointless exercise and in such a case I would propose a complete rewrite.

• CREATING & MANAGING WEBLOGS

One of the best ways to communicate with Internet-savvy audiences is through blogging. I have been blogging for several years. The site you are reading was built with Wordpress blogging software, and my personal blog Star Phoenix Base has been active since April, 2006. I can  set up and launch your company blog, then provide on-going support. For more information, click here.

• PROJECT MANAGEMENT

In today’s economic climate it may make sense to outsource project management. The problem is to find a reliable source. Through years of experience I am a take-charge executive with the ability to manage your projects from A to Z. For more about this go here.

• AVIATION

Although I’ve hung up my goggles and silk scarf I logged more than 600 hours of executive flying time in my own single-engine airplanes, so I know an aileron from a rudder.

• ODDS & ENDS

Just for fun, I occasionally write on the subject of writing itself. Some of my personal explorations in the realm of wordcraft are posted on this site. If you’re interested, go here and click on the topics listed.

I also produce an occasional e-newsletter on the art of writing. To download and read issues, go here and click on the links. Or, call or send me an email requesting to be added to our electronic distribution list. No cost or obligation, of course.