Tom Durkin

Nevada City, CA 95959

530 559-3199 (cell)

tdurkin@vfr.net

writer-editor

Summary of Qualifications

Veteran contract and staff writer and editor. Professional command of both written and spoken English. Accomplished in researching, analyzing, organizing, explaining, and editing complex information in a highly creative, entertaining, and comprehensible form for print, Web, broadcast, and video/film.

Skilled in writing and editing feature and technical articles, business and entertainment news, legal and government analyses, community journalism, and research-and-write cold assignments. Zero-tolerance copy editor with thorough knowledge of AP style. Excellent predictive instincts for news and trends.

Proficient in MS Word with working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint. Great sense of layout and design. Ten-plus years remote telework experience in online collaboration with virtual teams on VPN and Windows networks.

Strong interpersonal skills: team player, facilitative leader, mentor, and creative problem-solver. Dedicated to continuous learning and committed to excellence. Possessed of common sense, good humor, and honest work ethic.

Relevant Contract and Staff Experience

Freelance Journalist & Marketing Consultant – Nevada City, CA; 3/04 – present

Ø Feature stories for Nevada City Advocate

Ø Feature stories for The Union’s Sunday Express

Ø Government news for the Colfax Record

Ø Place press releases in local media

Ø Design multimedia photography and graphic layouts – business cards, brochures, posters, flyers, direct mail

Technical Editor – Innovative Integration Inc., Simi Valley, CA; 5/06 – 8/08

Ø Edited technical articles for programmable logic and digital signal processing for both print and online publications.

Web Content Editor – AMMA Corp, Taipei, Taiwan; 10 – 11/05

Ø Rewrote English-as-second-language translation of Taiwanese electronics manufacturer’s website into international business English.

Ø Reorganized site structure to improve logical linking and eliminate redundancy.

Managing Editor – Xcell Journal, Xilinx Inc., San Jose, CA; 10/00 – 1/04

Ø Edited and supervised editors of technical articles written by programmable logic engineers, including many English-as-second-language authors.

Ø Co-authored writers’ guidelines and designed MS Word article template.

Assistant Editor – E-commerce User Experience, Nielsen Norman Group, Fremont, CA; 3 – 9/00

Senior Technical Editor – Raytheon Engineering Services Co., Sacramento, CA; 10/99 – 8/00

Ø Researched worldwide aftermarket for strategic semiconductors for Department of Defense.

Ø Analyzed incidence, frequency, and cost of maintenance/repair of AV-8B Harrier II jets for U.S. Marine Corps.

Contributing Author – Chicken Soup for the Single’s Soul, Dearfield Beach, FL; 1999

Feature Writer – Si Review magazine, Los Altos, CA; 3 – 8/99

Ø Wrote several articles on the staffing industry.

Technical Writer/Editor – SyncAccess Inc., Sacramento, CA; 1/99 – 5/99

Ø Authored white paper on Gigabit Ethernets.

News and Features Editor – Robot Science & Technology magazine, Rocklin, CA; 12/97 – 6/98

Ø Researched, wrote, and edited feature articles on robots and robotics.

Technology Writer – Faulkner Information Services, Pennsauken, NJ; 11/97 – 2/98

Ø Researched and wrote technical reports on telecommuting and telecommunications.

Ø Specialized in research-and-write cold assignments.

Webmaster/Content Editor – Fleming LTD Telework Consulting, Davis, CA; 1/96 – 2/98

Ø Designed, built, and maintained active website with monthly updates of hyperlinks and articles.

Contributing Author – Cyberscribes.1: The New Journalists, San Diego, CA; 8/97

Webmaster/Content Editor – International Police Association, USA Region 29, Auburn, CA; 10/96 – 4/97

Feature Writer – Telecommuting Review, Gil Gordon Associates, Monmouth Junction, NJ; 4/95 – 12/97

Ø Wrote creative articles on telework technology and best practices for virtual workplace implementation.

Ø Wrote white paper on effectiveness and feasibility of telework centers in the U.S.

Reporter/Editor – California Education Funding Alert, Thompson Publishing Group, Sacramento, CA; 1/96 – 9/96

Ø Started up and edited start-up executive-level newsletter on education finance and legislation.

Ø Broke news of $1.7 billon settlement of California Teachers Association lawsuit against State of California over misappropriation of education funds.

Editor/Legal Reporter – California Employee Relations Report, The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., Sacramento, CA; 8/91 – 3/95

Ø Started up and edited executive-level newsletter on California and federal employment law.

Ø Developed deep-issue expertise covering California workers’ compensation reform, state and federal family medical leave, and fair employment practices.

Copy Editor/Reporter – The Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento, CA; 10/89 – 4/91

Ø “Last eyes” editor of all major news stories.

Ø Reported on construction, labor unions, education, and human resource issues.

Reporter/Photographer – Auburn Journal, Colfax Record, Placer County, CA; 1980 – 87

Ø Covered breaking news, city and county government, education (editor), and entertainment (editor).

Ø Won various national, state, and local awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, and photography.

Education

Postgraduate Studies, English and Computer Science– Sonoma State University, California

MFA, Theater Arts (TV/Film/Multimedia) – UCLA

BA, Psychology – UCLA, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

In-Service Training

Ø Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Ø Facilitative Leadership

Ø Teacher Power!

Ø Conflict Resolution and Confrontation Skills

Continuing education credits in English and journalism, computer applications, education and training, leadership, and time/work management. Committed to lifelong learning.