Mike Van Meter

2009 NW Seventh St., Bend, Oregon 97701 * (541) 330-5836

mvanmeter@newsprose.org

Resume, Portable Document (pdf) format
Resume, Microsoft Word (doc) format
News and commentary archive

Businesses

News Prose Communications, March 2002 to present

• Professional journalism, troubleshooting and consulting business. Core services include professional journalism, editing and information-gathering.
• Clients include Capital Press (reporting on Central Oregon water and farm issues for four-state agriculture weekly), KLCC (local correspondent for Eugene NPR affiliate), St. Charles Medical Center (coordinator for two in-house newsletters), Credit Investigation Associates (document search and retrieval for properties in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties) and Community College Humanities Association (newsletter consultant).
• Freelance editing, writing and publications creation.

Perpetual Motion, Bend, Oregon, June 1992 to March 2002

• Owner and chief consultant, March 1997 to present: Shifted business to consulting, freelance writing and editing base. Clients have included the International Rapid Response Force Conference, Farmers Insurance, Intelligent Life Inc., The Source and Imagination Publishing.
• Co-owner, June 1992 to March 1997: Oversaw Internet-based running- and fitness-related sales and consulting business, including publication of Don't Stop Moving newsletter.

Work experience

Composition instructor, Central Oregon Community College, Bend, Fall 2003 to present

• Teach developmental writing to diverse (age, cultural, academic) classrooms incorporating lecture, multimedia, large- and small-group discussion and other delivery methods.
• Evaluate student performance through in-class writing, major essays, peer review, timed examinations and portfolios.
• Coordinate with other instructors and staff to maintain and develop standards for evaluation, instruction and curriculum.

Executive editor, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon, January 2001 to January 2002

• Managed newsroom of the Spilyay Tymoo, a bi-weekly tribal newspaper, with total staff of five to eight persons depending on seasonal intern and part-time employee count. Oversaw reporting, photography, editing, design, planning, staff management, recruiting and training.
• Redesigned publication and fully digitized production.
• Reorganized staff and news content while filling role of acting publisher.
• Created advertising department.
• Served key role on Tribal Relations team (public relations, print shop, newspaper and radio), including early-stage design and critique of ultimately successful casino referendum campaign.

Journalism advisor, Central Oregon Community College, Bend, March 1998 to January 2001

• Worked with students on publication of The Broadside, student newspaper of COCC.
• Managed staff and operation; developed long-term plan for publication and created with staff a Web page format for online publication.
• Taught three-credit journalism practicum (two hours lecture, one hour staff meeting) which covered basics of newsgathering, standards and ethics.

Reporter and copy editor, The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, August 1988 to January 1999

• As senior copy editor, January 1998 to January 1999, edited stories, wrote headlines and designed pages for daily newspaper with circulation of 28,000. Worked closely with city desk and reporters to ensure clarity and completeness in local news stories.
• As education reporter, May 1995 to January 1998, filled senior news staff position that covered education issues from kindergarten through college. Reported on complex shifts in state funding system, implementation of school reform standards and expansion of four-year college degree programs. Writing targeted a broad and demanding public audience.
• Copy editor, August 1988 to May 1995 (senior status beginning in 1992): Selected and edited stories and wrote headlines for front page and Perspective section, local and wire pages.

Reporter and editor, small daily newspapers

• The Observer (La Grande, Oregon): News editor, reporter (city hall, agriculture, politics) and sports writer.
• Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington): Covered Kittitas County government, superior court, natural resources and prep, college and pro sports.

Education and seminars

• Bachelor of Arts in History, Bachelor of Arts in General Studies (Creative Writing, English and Education emphases), Eastern Oregon University.
• Poynter Institute National Writers' Workshops (Seattle and Portland), 1994-2002, Winter Fishtrap writers' retreats (Wallowa Lake), 2000-2001; Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association workshops for reporters and copy editors (La Grande, John Day and Portland), 1985-1989.
• Organized and led COCC Broadside Journalism Training Camp, Fall 1998.

Professional skills

Collaboration

• Team player: Participated in teams made up of reporters, editors, photographers, designers and project leaders; have filled all of those roles.
• Manager and leader: Led multicultural newsroom of tribal newspaper. Supervisory, administrative and planning experience in news publications, tribal government and higher education.
• Teacher and mentor: Four years teaching and advising at community college. Worked as senior staff member, editor and supervisor with less-experienced journalists.

Communication

• Written: Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism first-place award (five-state Pacific Northwest region) for education reporting. Broad background in writing and editing for general audiences, colleagues and management in high-production environments, meeting demanding daily deadlines.
• Interviews/interpersonal communication: Extensive experience asking questions of and listening to people from wide backgrounds and cultures, often in high-pressure or sensitive environments.
• Lecture/storytelling: Comfortable with classroom and public audiences from large groups to small luncheons, with strong ability to speak on an impromptu basis.

Technical

• Production-level skills in desktop publishing (PageMaker, Photoshop, Quark), Internet and word-processing applications on Macintosh and Windows platforms.
• Working familiarity with office suites (Microsoft and Sun) and Web design programs.

Volunteer and professional affiliations

• Stewardship Committee annual fund-raising campaign (helped coordinate, edited and wrote material for public relations component), First Presbyterian Church, Fall/Winter 2000.
• Student Newspaper Task Force, Central Oregon Community College, Spring 1998.
• Volunteer journalism assistant, Marshall High School (alternative school), 1998-99.
• Start Making a Reader Today (SMART), 1994-95 school year, Bear Creek Elementary, Bend.
• Bend Kids Ski League cross-country coach, 1990-1994. Coach of the Year, 1993.