Gary James, lead writer/editor

Home base: Chapel Hill, N.C.

E-mail contact: garyjames@thewordcrew.com

An accomplished writer, editor and manager with more than 30 years of experience across a range of business-to-business publication formats and industries. Directly involved in several magazine and newspaper launches with solid experience in public/media relations and high-level issues management. Strengths include top-notch skills with the written and spoken word and exceptional sensitivity to deadlines, detail and accuracy. Familiar with a variety of digital formats, including e-newsletters, blogging, e-zines and social media.

Core competencies include:

• Reporting and writing news and feature stories on a wide range of business topics, at a national and international level.
• Developing and launching new publications, including newspaper supplements, magazines and newsletters.
• Project management, working with production, art/design and writing teams to deliver publications on time and on budget. 
• Editing and proofreading magazine and newspaper copy, books and digital content to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Writing and distributing news releases, opinion pieces, white papers and other communications on behalf of major corporate clients.
• Forging relationships with target media through news conferences, briefings and other ongoing communications. 
• Crafting public/media relations strategies to meet client goals.
• Event planning, developing content for and presenting information to key industry and media groups.
• Deep working knowledge of the furniture, automobile, computer/software and floral industries.
• Global view, with travel to Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Germany,  Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Denmark and Egypt to cover trade shows and other business events.