SARAH E. LEACH
(231) 750-6128
PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE: To work in copy editing, page design and new media.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
2010-2011: The Holland Sentinel, Holland, Mich.
Assistant Managing Editor: Responsibilities include supervising a copy desk of 3 full-time copy editors and 1 part-time copy editor. Responsible for all aspects of copy editing and design as well as for meeting production deadlines to an off-location printing facility. Helped introduce informational graphics, maps and other forms of illustration to the paper. Responsible for rolling out a redesign in June 2011.
2009-2010: The Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Copy Editor: Responsibilities include copy editing and design of three metropolitan dailies: The Grand Rapids Press, The Muskegon Chronicle and The Kalamazoo Gazette. Helped roll out production of the Gazette, designing A1 and overseeing work of another copy editor nightly.
2008-2009: The News Leader, Staunton, Va.
Copy Editor: As a member of a universal copy desk, responsibilities include handling all aspects of copy editing and design. Daily assignments rotate between news, sports and features; this includes designing the front page and the sports and features covers, which include the weekly Go! feature (aimed at upcoming weekend events), and the Sunday Homes and Lifestyles sections. Responsibilities also include editing local copy; selecting, editing and placing wire copy; responding, coordinating and supervising breaking news assignments; posting content to the Web and being able to adapt and respond in an ever-changing work environment. Job description has evolved into becoming the desk’s “utility position,” where I have essentially become the assistant to the desk editor, updating templates and libraries and taking on special projects, such as creating logos, illustrations and graphics for enterprise series and the Web site.
November 2002-October 2008: The Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, Mich.
Weekend Editor: Responsibilities include running the desk, assisted by a desk aid, on Friday and Saturday nights for publication of Saturday and Sunday editions. Designing 1A for Saturday and Sunday editions, as well as editing local copy; selecting, editing and placing wire copy; responding, coordinating and supervising breaking news assignments; and serving as the editorial department’s troubleshooter in instances of technical difficulties. Job description evolved into becoming the desk’s “utility position,” where on any given day assignments could be 1A daily cover, wire slot, local/region cover, feature advance covers or special projects.
September-November 2002: The Herald-Palladium, St. Joseph, Mich.
Copy Editor: Responsibilities included sorting the wires, organizing copy for other editors, editing wire and local copy, collaborating with metro editors on editorial decisions and designing three to four daily deadline pages and one to two advance pages per work day.
May-September 2002: The Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Intern: Responsibilities included polishing staff-written and newswire copy for the metro, business, nation, world, state, local and community zone sections. Also responsible for selecting and cropping images, as well as the layout and design of pages for the daily and advance sections. Three editions for the daily publication require strict deadline pressure.
May-August 2001: The Detroit News, Detroit, Mich.
Intern: Responsibilities included polishing staff-written and newswire copy for the metro, features and sports desks. Also responsible for some layout and design work.
January-April 2001: 21st Century, Beijing, China
Intern: Responsibilities included polishing staff-written and newswire copy, as well as reading and approving dummy pages. Also responsible for conducting a weekly, one-hour staff lecture covering journalism topics, including writing, interviewing and editing.
May-August 2000: The Bay City Times, Bay City, Mich.
Intern: Responsibilities included general-news reporting in the Bay-metro area and the adjacent northeastern counties; also responsible for meeting strict daily deadlines.
EDUCATION:
Attended Baker College-Muskegon campus to pursue a second bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. Need 10 additional classes to graduate. Cumulative grade-point average is 4.0.
Graduated in May of 2002 from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Journalism.
ABILITIES:
• Can write and edit local or wire copy quickly and effectively.
• Am versed in desktop publishing and can produce well-designed pages.
• Can work well under daily deadline pressure or pace workload to meet end-of-shift deadlines.
• Am comfortable working as an individual or in a team setting.
• Am flexible in scheduling.
• Can provide quality contributions in brainstorming sessions for story or design ideas.
• Can write great headlines.
• Am willing to take on special projects.
• Can design logos, illustrations and graphics and can tone photos.
• Have a sound, working knowledge of computers and can troubleshoot in times of technical difficulty.
• NewsEditPro • Adobe Illustrator • Microsoft programming
• Quark Express • Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe InDesign • Adobe Acrobat
JOURNALISM BACKGROUND:
CM LIFE, Central Michigan University:
August 2001-May 2002: Editor-in-Chief
Responsible for all content for news, sports, entertainment editorial sections, as well as staff management and official stance and views of the publication.
August 1999-May 2000 and August-December 2000: News Editor
Responsible for all stories pertaining to the news department, editing articles and supervising three assistant news editors. Assisting in prioritization for story placement; also covered the Mount Pleasant City Commission from the first semester of the 1999-2000 academic year to December 2001
February-May 1999: Assistant News Editor
Responsible for assigning stories to 15 reporters, editing their assignments and meeting production deadlines.
October 1998-February 1999: General Assignment Reporter
Responsible for covering five general-assignment stories per week and meeting deadlines.
AWARDS AND HONORS:
2nd Place in 2010 Michigan Associated Press Editorial Association Informational Graphics category: Healthy Decision
1st Place in 2001 Michigan Press Association College Newspaper Contest: General Excellence Award for the best collegiate newspaper
2nd Place in 2001 Michigan Press Association College Newspaper Contest: Journalist of the Year
1st Place in 2000 Michigan Press Association College Newspaper Contest: Best Deadline Story, “PR layoffs result in controversy.”
1st Place in 1999 Michigan Press Association College Newspaper Contest: Best Deadline Story, “Toxic Fumes in Merrill Residence.”
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
Central Park Players designer in fall 2010: Designed posters and newspaper advertisements for the Grand Haven group's production of "Little Shop of Horrors."
Muskegon High School Theater Department designer (2008-present): Designed posters, programs, T-shirts and ticket stubs for the fall and spring theater productions.
Lake Michigan College English tutor (2002): Responsibilities include attending lectures two nights a week, completing sample assignments for student benefit, helping them comprehend the material and proofreading their work.
The Wave copy editing assistant adviser (2002): The Wave is the publication of the student journalism club at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Mich. Responsibilities included attending meetings two days a week, advising students on reporting and writing decisions, editing their final product before it goes to press and mentoring future journalists.
