Jameson O’Neal
• Copywriter • Copy editor • Feature writer
• Memoirist • Essayist • Columnist • Poet
WORDSMITHING CAREER
Copywriter and copy editor for NGOs and nonprofits. Starting in May 2018, I offer my broad writing and editing services to organizations that relieve suffering, protect rights, empower historically oppressed groups, promote peace, or otherwise advance the welfare of beings on our turbulent planet. Determined to adapt my well-honed skills to the needs of the nonprofit community, I completed an extensive and justly acclaimed online course by American Writers & Artists Inc., Copywriting for Nonprofits: How to write inspiring copy for the fundraising market. Having learned the basics of writing fundraising copy, website copy and newsletters, I’m eager to tackle projects for this market. I aim to be the go-to wordsmith of a handful of organizations whose missions I embrace.
Freelance writer and editor, November 2012-present. Write and edit news and marketing copy for nonprofits and corporations. Clients have included online news publication Global Press Journal and Central Oregon telecommunications leader BendBroadband.
Copy editor and editorial writer at The Source, an alternative weekly newspaper based in Bend. Provided freelance copy editing from December 2012 to September 2013. From Dec. 6, 2012-March 21, 2013, also wrote literate, hard-hitting editorials in consultation with the publisher and editor; see Boot/Glass Slipper.
Slot (chief copy editor) at The Bulletin (regional daily based in Bend, Oregon), May 2010-October 2012. Performed final edit of copy for news, feature, business and commentary sections. Assured accuracy and quality of headlines. Mentored copy editors.
Copy editor, slot at The Omaha World-Herald, May 2006-November 2008. Edited stories, wrote headlines; served as slot two to three times a week.
General assignment reporter at The Gazette, a regional daily paper based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, August 2003-March 2006. Covered trends, wrote spot news and human interest stories. Had the honor and privilege of covering the cultural life of Iowa City, a robust university town. Met brilliant authors, poets, artists, researchers, philosophers, politicians and journalists.
Copy and design editor at The Gazette, August 1998-March 2003. Edited news copy, designed pages, wrote headlines; served as copy chief and nation/world editor as needed; regularly designed 1A.
Correspondent for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February-August 1998. Covered municipalities and school districts in St. Louis and St. Charles counties. Provided news stories and photographs.
Managing editor at the Journal Newspapers of St. Charles and Warren Counties, September 1996-February 1998. Heightened quality of four newspaper titles by cultivating creativity, enterprise and dedication to excellence; promoted teamwork and consensus-building; strengthened community relations.
Copy editor, city editor at the St. Charles County Journals, 1990-1996. Broadened depth and scope of reporting; sharply upgraded caliber of news writing, headline writing and page design; conducted in-house workshops; served on editorial board, oversaw guest columnist program, assisted in editing opinion page, wrote weekly column for 18 months, and regularly contributed editorials.
Writing coach/recruiter at the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis, 1990. Conducted writing and editing seminars; coached reporters and clerks; represented Journals at career days and job fairs.
Managing editor at the County Star-Journal, 1989-1990. Supervised eight writers and editors; wrote column; oversaw production; helped effect merger of paper into North County Publications.
Assistant managing editor at the County Star-Journal, 1988-1989. Edited news and feature copy; coached writers; designed news pages; served as floor editor; assisted managing editor with wide range of duties.
Historian, author, 1985-87. Researched and wrote the centennial history of the Ethical Society of St. Louis, a liberal religious fellowship in the Ethical Culture movement.
Editor of the Central West End Journal, 1984-1985. Wrote compelling stories about politics, business, local personalities and arts scene; designed news pages.
Feature writer, county government reporter at the Suburban Journals of Jefferson County, 1983-1984. Wrote and edited stories; assisted managing editor.
Copy editor at the Rocky Mountain News, Denver, 1980-1983. Edited news and feature copy; wrote award-winning headlines; worked as floor editor, wire editor, slot, layout editor.
Carpenter’s apprentice, Capitol Hill bohemian, Denver, 1979-1980. Sawed, hammered, schlepped, read, wrote, hiked, explored civilian life.
Jesuit novice and scholastic in the Missouri Province of the Society of Jesus, Denver, Kansas City, Tulsa, St. Louis, Los Angeles and Spokane, 1975-1979. Prayed, meditated, studied, did some good, befriended extraordinary people, traveled, explored soul, studied philosophy, embraced rationalism, embarked on the middle path.
EDUCATION
University of Iowa; B.A., English; graduated May 2001; UI GPA, 4.0.
Metropolitan State College of Denver, 1980-1982; majors, English and journalism. My most influential journalism professor, Greg Pearson, taught me the three most important things about journalism on the first day of my first class.
Saint Louis University, 1975-1978; major, philosophy and letters.
AWARDS AND HONORS
General News Feature, second place, Iowa Associated Press Managing Editors Association editorial excellence contest, 2006; Narrative Feature, second place, IAPMEA contest, 2006.
I Get Those People! Award, Jan. 20, 2004. When my paper ran a story I’d written about a quiet woman who was inspired to become a peace activist late in life, an ardent proponent of the Iraq invasion called to thank me for explaining how peaceniks think. “I could never get those people!” he said. “Thank you so much for helping me get them! Thank you!”
I Thought I Hated That Guy! Award, Oct. 30, 2005. After reading a story I’d written about an anti-war rally on the University of Iowa campus, a caller who identified himself only as a devout Christian said he was grateful I’d gotten him to listen to what a local imam had to say about the war in Iraq. “I thought I hated that guy!” he said. “But he’s just like me: He just wants us to do the right thing! Thank you so much for writing about him. I’m going to go listen to him sometime, if they allow you to do that. Really? You think? OK, I’ll call. Thank you again. You’re a good reporter.”
So Glad! Award, Jan. 20, 2004. The day my paper ran a story about the need for a new homeless shelter, a caller told me she was grateful that I was the person assigned to my role. “I’m so glad you’re the reporter they have covering homelessness here,” she said. “You really get what’s at stake here!”
Serious Column, first place, for reflection on a childhood stutter induced in part by excessive attention to ordinary dysfluency; Humorous Column, third place, for advice given to fellow graduates upon earning a sheepskin in middle age, Better Newspaper Contest of the National Newspaper Association, 2002.
I Passed Along Your Column Award, September 2000. While I was filling in for a staff columnist, the owner of a cafe in Cedar Rapids told me she had posted my column on mindfulness and encouraged patrons to read it for a lift.
Someone Passed Along Your Column Award, August 1999. A woman I knew through an Ethical Culture fellowship in Cedar Rapids called to tell me that one of her best friends, a longtime correspondent, had sent her – via snail mail – my column on how email could revive the lost art of correspondence. She said she had already read the column and had planned to send it to her friend. (She shared my hope for a revival of the art but feared it was as lost as longhand. I thought she was being excessively pessimistic on both counts. Sigh.)
Best Editor We’ve Had Around Here Since the Flood Award (St. Charles and Warren counties, Mo.), 1997. Nominated 1996.
I Hate You People! Award, May 1, 1991, St. Charles County, Missouri. Touched a nerve by “deliberately stirring empathy” for a family whose runaway dog had been shot dead.
Best Column, Press Association of Greater St. Louis, 1990. I struggled to find something wise to say about something wretched. I thought I had failed until my colleagues told me otherwise.
You Made Me Who I Am Today! Award, St. Louis, earned late ’80s, awarded late ’90s. A public relations writer I had mentored years before told a friend of mine I had done more for his professional development than all of his professors at the University of Missouri.
You Get Me! Award, 1985, St. Louis. The day my paper ran a story about a sculptor working on an installation, the artist called to tell me she was thankful I had really listened to her. She said no journalist had ever seemed to get her before. In fact, she said, she’d always been uncomfortable talking to reporters because they only want quick, snappy, easy-to-explain answers, and that just wasn’t who she was. “You get me,” she said. “Thank you for taking the time to get me.”
Usher of the Arts Award, 1985, St. Louis. A choreographer told me she used my profile of her dance troupe to illustrate how good journalism cultivates deep appreciation of the arts.
Colleagues’ Choice Award, Feb. 8, 1984, St. Louis and Jefferson counties, Missouri. Colleagues told me my profile of a family of subsistence farmers was the most moving prose our newspaper group had ever published.
Headline Writer of the Month, June 1982, July 1982, Scripps-Howard Newspapers Honors. These back-to-back awards for writing headlines at the Rocky Mountain News touched me like a nod from William Butler Yeats.
That Headline Sings! Award, 1982, Rocky Mountain News, Denver. The new managing editor learned my name when he tracked down the author of a front-page weather head that caught his fancy. “That headline sings,” he said. “It just sings.”
Maypril Creative Writing Contests, Metropolitan State University of Denver, I’m pretty sure it was ’81 or ’82. I know I received at least one first place, and that I took honors in fiction, poetry and verity. I thanked Martha Sinn. (Quick Metro State story: During the generic products craze of the early ’80s, campus wags designed a white T-shirt with a black bar code and black lettering. It said, “Metropolitan State College: Suitable for everyday higher education.”) (For my copy editor friends: cq on Maypril.)
Sacred Duty Award, one day after Honors English class, Parkway Central Senior High School, Chesterfield, Missouri, ca. 1973-’74. Teacher extraordinaire Martha Sinn told me my gift is a rarity that I have a duty to cultivate. With drive and discipline, she said, I will serve well whatever mission I embrace.