Editing & Writing
I have worked for five years (2000-2005) as a columnist, news writer, section editor, copy chief, and editor in chief for the Western Herald, the student-run, non-lab daily newspaper affiliated with Western Michigan University, circulation 12,500. In my final role as EIC, I had the privilege of directing and approving all aspects of the newspaper’s final content, including story selection, content approval, layout, and editorial policy. I reported to the newspaper’s board of directors, which represented multiple constituencies within the community, and directly managed eight full-time section editors and roughly 50 part-time, paid staff writers and photographers.
Since my departure from the Herald, I’ve kept myself busy writing business analyses at my hospital, and blogging. I’ve also worked on two different manuscripts, and a small number of freelance jobs — including, most recently, a 900-word entry on “interpenetrated design” for the forthcoming Encyclopedia of Survey Research Methods.
I am available for freelance assignment, or for contract writing/editing work. Simply call or e-mail; my contact information is on the “About Jason” page.
More info on contract work is available at my consultantcy’s Web site.
Current Project Work
At present, I am …
- Editor of the Kent County (Mich.) section of Red County, a national network of center-right bloggers that includes more than 60 formal counties across America with dozens of members of Congress writing, and national columnists including Mona Charen and Michelle Malkin.
- Volunteer editor for the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, a project based out of the University of Tennessee (Martin).
- Contributing writer for Demand Studios, a network that feeds content to high-profile Web properties.
Reference Links
The following links may prove helpful to the aspiring writer:
- morgueFile (free, high-quality stock images)
- Poynter Online (journalism education)
- Writing, Broadcasting, & Journalism (resources from Riley Guide, a jobs site)
- Writers & Editors (tips for freelancers)
- Society of Professional Journalists (the pro organization for the media)
Selected Portfolio
The following list contains selected stories from my tenure at the Western Herald:
- Al Heilman boasts business background (candidate profile)
- Male suicide (editorial)
- “Super Troopers” fails at must-see status (film review)
- Media diversity (editorial)
- Bailey to propose increases, fees for 2004-2005 (news analysis) [page 2]
- Sigma Pi penalized for fight at fraternity(general news); Litynski to leave provost job (personality profile) [page 2]
- WMU’s BTR Park to add new company (news)
- America’s place in world key question for election (opinion column)
- WMU may fail governor’s challenge (news analysis) [page 2]
- Deal cut in Lansing, WMU to lower fee (general news)
- Meningitis case treated successfully (general news)
- Darnell’s contract terminated (breaking news brief)
All of the stories listed above can be downloaded in a single PDF.



