Manuelita Nadebah Beck

You're probably already taking in a lot of information on how to cover this year's elections. These guides are aimed at helping you talk through that information with your news organization, and strategize or decide on how you'll navigate different scenarios long before they arise and leave you thinking, "I wish we'd talked about how we'd actually handle this." Our first two guides help you consider your coverage of misinformation and polling, and we've got more in the works! Let us know if there are other topics you'd like to see addressed.

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Indeed’s definition of a Journalist:   ‘A Journalist, or Reporter, is responsible for researching and writing informational news articles and stories about real events using a fair and unbiased perspective. Their duties include interviewing experts, gathering first-hand accounts of events and organizing an outline into a cohesive, interesting story.’ In 2004, ExpertSources was founded by an ex-journalist himself, Mr Bob Mills who spearheaded this ingenious online platform as a lead in its field for regional, national and international media professionals to quickly and easily find experts in any and every sector imaginable. Journalists, Reporters, Media Professionals, join here FOR FREE https://lnkd.in/gWTuBX5 in less than 20 seconds and start searching with keywords for an expert relevant to your topic at hand. Take advantage of our 20% discount, ending today, we would be thrilled to have you join us as an esteemed and sort after expert member. https://lnkd.in/dbnVv_m www.expertsources.co.uk ‘WHERE JOURNALISTS FIND PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE.’ #Publicity #Media #MediaProfessionals #Journalist #Journalists #MediaExposure #Revenue #PR #PublicRelations #Expert #Experts #Charity #University #Business #Journalism #Editorial #Podcast #Vlog #Magazines #TV #Radio #SocialMedia #ROI #Business #StartUp #Entrepreneur #Success #BusinessSuccess #Revenue #YourDream #Reputation #Journalism Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash

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What does it mean to share power in the editorial process? find out in this post by @jmr_MediaSpark, which offers practical strategies for collaborating with communities: https://lnkd.in/gHpd8AZ8

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1) The membership of this work group contains no one from commercial publishing, in other words, the group that creates most of what the other groups consume. 2) Contrary to the contention that the comments are "out of scope", legality is an absolutely critical requirement that is in scope by definition. Does the NISO's enabling legislation even allow it to promulgate a standard that is known to be illegal? Todd Carpenter 3) The signatories are a Murderer's Row of organizations representing every aspect of commercial book publishing including agents, authors, and publishers from most parts of the world. In short, it looks to an outsider like the problem is that this group was convened with the wrong charter and the wrong membership. As Ms. Halperin suggests, it's a pity the process was allowed to waste two years of everyone's time.

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Now I know. You know? "The difference between copy editing and proofreading lies in which components of a written work each role focuses on. In copy editing, the copy is tidied up for conciseness and polished so that the information is delivered to the reader clearly. Proofreading, however, is the last opportunity to catch errors and correct inconsistencies relating to how the page looks." https://lnkd.in/gzzsQJqW

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This is an excerpt from E. Prybylski's insightful post. If you are considering an editor but wondering about the cost, I recommend reading it. Editing is an investment that can help your book transcend into something truly special that speaks to readers. "I want to remind people that, above all, when you’re working with an editor, you are working with a human being. Most of us are deeply passionate about writing and editing and about our professions. Most of us are not wealthy at all (many are barely middle class, if that). Many editors come from backgrounds like disability or neurodivergence. We have studied our profession out of that deep passion I mentioned before, and we truly love what we do... Editors are your cheerleaders, your companions, your friends, and your mentors. And we need to eat, too." - E. Prybylski If cost is a factor you are balancing, consider focusing on one round of editing (developmental, line, copyediting) or an editor who offers a combination service to help you be cost-effective. Note that editing is a time-intensive process, and editors will acknowledge that combination service won't be as effective as both a developmental edit and copyediting pass, but sometimes it is what your budget, your book, and your readers need. Not sure what is right for your book? Ask an editor! Posts like these exist because we genuinely care and want to help you succeed, even if that means we are not the right fit editor for you. We can advise you on what type of editing your book needs to succeed and what might be optional. Feel free to reach out for a sample edit and an opinion! I (and we) are here to help.

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It's the 40th anniversary of one of my favorite #StarTrek films, and the strongest argument against the old "only the even-numbered ones are good" theory. In this article, I look back at how #Spock actor Leonard Nimoy got to direct #TheSearchForSpock

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"it’s important to remember that there are no rules, and we can choose who we are and what we do every single day. Something I’ve noticed since starting my new job as a writer is just how diverse the label “writer” is. When most folks think of writers, they think of journalists who cover different industries and break the news on stories. But even within the narrow scope of “journalists,” there is so much variety. Some journalists cover finance, and within that, markets, and within that, venture capital and public equities and commodities. Other journalists cover sports, business, politics, and pop culture. Some writers, like me, apply a layer of commentary to the news. More often than not, I’m not telling readers what happened as much as I am why it matters. Some writers are pure essayists. Some are fiction novelists, others write biographies and histories. Some writers are equity researchers and hedge fund analysts, while others are copywriters, crisis comms strategists, and marketing executives. The scope of “writing,” as a profession, is infinite, because writing isn’t a profession. It’s a skill. And fine-tuned skills are valuable in a variety of “jobs.” Replace “writer” with teacher. Investor. Coach. If you only think about your career in terms of the job you do and other jobs that immediately progress from your current role then, yes, there are “rules” on what you may be able to pursue. But if you think about your career from the perspective of which skills you have developed and where else they might be applicable, you’ll realize that opportunities are near-infinite. Journalists can become investors. Corporate executives can become authors. Even in the case of the most rigid disciplines such as law and medicine, nothing is stopping you from going back to school right now, if you want to change course. You can reinvent yourself tomorrow if you’d like. The only “rules,” if any, are those that exist in your head. They’re self-imposed." No Rules: https://lnkd.in/d74EmhwW

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I’m seeing a worrying trend of archival conferences slowly transitioning into in-person only. At first they were digital, then they were hybrid, and then digital accommodations for presenters under extenuating circumstances. This was problematic enough as digital audiences began to be eliminated. Many of whom finally felt they were able to participate for the first time. Presenters also needed to disclose why they needed digital accommodations. Something that may make presenters quite uncomfortable to disclose. Me 10 years ago certainly wouldn’t have been able to. There are certainly exceptions, but I’ve noticed that we are getting to a stage where some conferences are eliminating language that even suggests digital accommodations in their callouts. Conferences heavily focus on networking and hosting in-person only eliminates those who may benefit from that networking most. Travel can be difficult for many of us. For myself, it’s health related. I also think of those who need to care for small children or sick relatives, students/early career professionals/those in the global south who cannot afford to travel because few stipends exist, and those who work in very small non-profits that are not awarded the time to be away. This is particularly troubling when so many conferences are themed around underrepresentation. I understand the difficulties that go into organizing a conference. I’ve been responsible for organizing events, including conferences in the past. I was organizing guest lectures during the pandemic. There are contractual obligations to sponsors and host sites but we need to be doing more. So, think about why certain demographics are more prevalent in our field. By returning to in-person only, we’ll always be stuck at the stage of “we need to be a more inclusive field.” Those voices that are necessary for such inclusion initiatives will never get to participate in the “here’s how”.

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A great test to see if your copy is too formal is the "comma Mary” test. The test comes from Bruce DeSilva, a thriller author and former journalist. The test: put ", Mary" at the end of a statement. Then read it aloud. If it doesn't sound right—namely, too formal—turn the word-choice dial toward less specialized, more conversational until it feels right. Example: “Undergoing regular cancer screenings is the expert-recommended approach to discovering cancer early enough to optimize treatment options and improve health outcomes, Mary." or "Regular cancer screenings help find cancer early, which is why experts recommend them. Treatment works best then and can help patients live longer, Mary." Which one are you most likely to say to a person? Now, it's no silver bullet; you'll want to go deeper and look at your writing decisions—sentence length along with word choice and order. But the "comma Mary" test is a great tool to judge your copy's readability. And to make changes toward making it more human—if that's what it needs, Mary. Alexandra Howson and I talked shop about voice last year. #writing #storytelling #medicalwriting

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🌱 What questions do you have about how to edit your book or major creative project? I’m making a guide specifically for people with “big picture” developmental questions. So far, based on asking folks in workshops, a question that keeps popping up is “what is the best way to edit my own work? Is there a structure to editing that is best?” It's a good question. I’ll answer in the guide. Any other burning questions? #editing #developmentaleditor #editor #book #askaneditor

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Had a great chat with Nicholas Yanes over on ScifiPulse about COMICS ARE DYING: THE COMIC from Zoop! If you want some deeper insights into the project and myself, this is the one for you! #comics #comicbooks

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Back in January, the Federal Highway Administration angered pun-lovers everywhere (at least those who were paying attention) by recommending that state highway departments limit the use of digital sign messages that use humor and pop-culture references. Their rationale? Not everybody understands the messages well enough to take the right action. My first reaction was that the bureaucrats were buzzkills. My second reaction was that they were right. Consider the message shown here. It refers to "The Sandlot," a movie that came out 31 years ago, long before millions of today's drivers were born or moved here from their countries of origin. And I'm not sure it's more effective than "Seat Belts Save Lives" or "Click It or Ticket" (even with its missing antecedent). As a writer, my job is to communicate first and entertain second. It's great when I can do both, but if I have to choose, I'll go with communication every time. What about you? #freelancewriting

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Look who got her first book review on Publishers Weekly!! I love these last few lines of the review: "Temblador’s reckoning with her own blind spots sets an example for probing one’s biases without defensiveness or ego. This thoughtful guide brings clarity to a fraught topic." Thank you Publishers Weekly! #bookreview #writers #creativewriting https://lnkd.in/gRCRAupZ

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“Professor, I have writer’s block.” I’ve been there. I like to joke that if I got back all the time I spent dealing with writer’s block, I’d be 22 years old again. Here’s my advice, for what it’s worth – and please feel free to leave your own thoughts in the comments. I’d start by answering this question: “What’s the most interesting thing you have to share?” Don’t overthink the answer; just say it out loud – even if it’s to yourself. You can even say it into a Voice Memo on your phone: “What I really want the reader to know is _____.” Then write it, informally, as if you’re sending a quick email or text to a friend. I think writer’s block gets worse because the writer feels like everything has to be perfect – as if he or she is engraving rather than just typing. Even Taylor Swift did her first version of the “Lover” album with one instrument – just to get it all down. I write my first drafts with my notebook *closed.* I put it all down from memory, and I don’t care if it’s rambling or incomplete or downright awful. Why? Because if something from my research or reporting is interesting enough to remember, it’s probably important enough to include. I put all the quotes and data in later. All of that evidence will put muscle on the skeleton. But I try to build the skeleton from memory. Lastly – remember that your “most important thing” or the “one thing you want to share” could be the answer to a question you pose in the beginning. For example: If you are doing a ton of research on political polling, and you find that a certain demographic is voting in an unexpected way, you can tease that at the top. Something like: “Pollsters have tried to decipher the Gen Z vote for a while now, and a new round of charts may yield a valuable clue.” Then you can lead the reader along your path to the answer. Bottom line: The cake doesn’t look like a cake until the very end. For most of the baking process, it looks like goop. Keep your first draft simple and informal, and then at least you know you are on your way.

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If you believe journalism can be a force for good, listen in briefly. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has a dedicated team of "Impact Producers" - it's their job to make sure that the findings we make get to the right people in the right way - policy makers, affected communities, regulators, business groups, prosecutors, whoever it might be. Our reporting is engaged with, not ignored. 👨‍🌾 Last year, we presented to several parliamentary committees. For the first time ever, migrant farm workers gave evidence to the House of Lords, after we reported their stories and facilitated them becoming witnesses. 👩‍🏫 After reading our exposé of Carter-Ruck, the world’s fiercest libel firm, Dan Neidle referred the firm the Solicitors Regulation Authority. 👊 We played an important role (along with tons of others) in the UK's Anti-Slapps coalition - which has already helped bring about a law to make abusive defamation lawsuits easier to dismiss. (A long way to go on that one still) 💸 After four years of uncovering a businessman allegedly scheming millions out of an indebted Essex council, that council is now suing the businessman to get its money back. The governing party was also just voted out. 🍍 We exposed that security guards on Del Monte's pineapple farm in Kenya allegedly killed people over a decade-long people. Kenya's human rights commission is investigating, the company brought in a human rights manager and tasked a new company with improving its security guard corps. 🐄 Nestlé dropped a major Brazilian beef supplier after we exposed how it sourced cattle from illegally deforested land. I'm going to leave it there, because I could go on for a long time. We've got so much to talk about that we just launched a newsletter called The Spark, which shares all the impact investigative journalism is making - yes our own, but other organisations' too. Sign up below 👇 https://lnkd.in/e4PqieVf

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Yesterday I read "Tabula Rasa," John McPhee's latest for The New Yorker, an essay about editing, timely since I had just attended a Northwest Editors Guild meeting about copy editing and proofreading. McPhee discussed a mistake in his son-in-law's book, "Big Weather." There was mention of "the Gulf of New Mexico." McPhee said his son-in-law found the error "unaccountable. For a starter, I suggested that he look in his computer, if the original manuscript was still there. It was, and in that first paragraph was the Gulf of New Mexico. Remarkable, yes, but think where that paragraph had been. It had been read by a literary agent, an acquisitions editor, an editorial assistant, a copy editor, a professional proofreader, at least one publicity editor--and not one of these people had noticed the goddam Gulf of New Mexico." I can relate. In the early 2000s, I edited www.4kids.org, a weekly newspaper feature that appeared in the comics pages of 140 newspapers. 4kids was syndicated by Universal Press, the same people who bring you Doonesbury, FoxTrot, Calvin and Hobbes, Dear Abby, Roger Ebert, and so much more, as dedicated a group of editors as I've ever worked with. Every week, with my staff of college students, I mocked up an issue with three stories featuring websites for kids. They would read the articles and go to the new World Wide Web to learn about the subject on the website. We featured only non-commercial, educational sites. To start, we put placeholder titles into the template. For one issue, the titles were "Sharks," "Loki," and "Space." Then we wrote our articles and the content for the rest of the issue. The last thing we did was create catchy titles to appeal to kids. The titles had to be short, snappy, and fun, something like "Swimming with Sharks!" "The Power of Loki," "Lost in Space." It was 6-weeks between mock up, editing, and sending the issue to the printer and having it appear in newspapers. When that issue came out, the titles were "Sharks," "Loki," and "Space." I double-checked my records. Those were the approved titles, edited and signed off by Universal Press. The issue had been looked at by me, my assistant, 3 staff members, and 2 backup readers and the main editor at Universal Press, and staff at the printer. No less than 9 people deemed "Sharks," "Loki," and "Space" to be suitable titles for kids. This is editing, not brain surgery. Mistakes happen. Take a breath, and plan a vacation to the Gulf of New Mexico. 😉 Do you have editing horror stories? Drop them in the comments. = = = 🎸 I'm Lee G. Hornbrook, editor and writing coach, sole proprietor of The Writing Prof Editorial Services. 📚 Inspiring you to tell you story your way, with a little help. ✍ Writing process expert. 🆘 Just getting started? Stalled? Written yourself into a corner? I can help. 📅 Schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation today to discuss your writing project. #editing #devediting #copyediting #writing #freelanceediting

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