communications, writer, editor with health focus

Gale T. Scott

*** ********** ****

Cranbury, N.J. 08512

609-***-**** (H) ac27hh@r.postjobfree.com 609-***-**** cell.

OBJECTIVE

Versatile, talented writer, editor, manager with extensive print and web journalism experience seeks editing, writing, or research position. Has particular expertise in medicine, health, pharmaceuticals, and health policy.

EXPERIENCE:

Deputy Executive Editor

MD Magazine and MDMag.com

August 2014 to April 2017

Edited and wrote daily website content including breaking news for a physician audience. Created an email news campaign that helped readership and site visits grow steadily. Wrote, planned, and edited two quarterly magazines MDMagazine Cardiology & Metabolic Health and MDMagazine Neurology & Psychiatry. Covered 20 major medical meetings in United States and in Europe producing daily stories and video content as well as content for the two quarterly magazines. As part of campaign to establish name recognition for the website and magazine, drew on contacts in the physician world to write for the publications and to visit the company’s production studio to do videotaped interviews. The studio visits also included debates on issues in medicine.

Supervised staff of 4 to 5 plus 12-20 freelancers and physician contributors. Supervised social media and wrote, produced, and directed videos. Cultivated relationships with major medical schools and health systems to get institutions to enter agreements to be strategic partners with MDMag and MDMagazine, meaning they provided the site with news and commentary and expertise on medical topics as needed.

Freelance writer/editor/publicist/web editor/content provider

(2000 to present)

Philadelphia Inquirer- Contribute stories to health/medical section.

NJ Monthly Magazine Contributed feature stories on aspects of life and nature in the state, including a piece on New Jersey’s tall ship and a piece on New Jersey after midnight.

Wrote press releases and science web stories for Princeton University and the Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

NY Times Conceived and edited a series of “point/counterpoint” debates on issues in medicine and medical practice. The project involved selecting the issues and getting physicians to take opposing sides, then editing their arguments so that each side was convincing.

Crain’s New York Business health reporter-editor

(2004 to 2009)

Covered health, hospitals, insurance industry, pharmaceutical industry, and organized medicine for Crain’s NY Business and the CNYB website. Position was eliminated due to the financial crisis that hit NYC and subsequent loss of advertising but continued to work at Crain’s on a contractual basis.

Media Consultant/ Public Relations Specialist

New Jersey Institute of Technology

(2002 to 2004)

While reporting on NJIT as a freelancer for The NYTimes, was offered and accepted a fulltime salaried position at NJIT helping this state-run university in Newark, N.J. get better media coverage. Duties including designing a communications department website, organizing internal seminars to show faculty how to get their stories out to the world, and writing news releases and pitching stories.

Editor-in-Chief

Physician’s Weekly

(1998-2001)

Covered health and medicine, assigned stories and artwork, supervised staff and had oversight for a $3 million budget. Created a website. Cut expenses, hired and fired, and got publication in shape for successful sale.

Health Writer/Editor

The Newark Star-Ledger

(1995-1998)

Broke story about childhood cancer in Toms River NJ, that led to a Pulitzer-prize winning book by the same name (I didn't write it but was credited) covered hospitals and medicine and extensively reported on hospital bankruptcies.

Investigations Team Reporter

Newsday/NYNewsday

(1988-1995)

First woman hired to be on Newsday’s investigations team. Five years covering health and hospitals at NY Newsday. (Paper was closed in summer of 1995.)

EDUCATION

Monmouth College certificate in teaching English K-12 leading to NJ Dept. of Education Certificate of Eligibility

Rutgers University BA in English/Journalism

Crain’s New York Business, took course in how to present yourself on camera and made several television appearances discussion health news.

Future Media Concepts, NYC/ took courses in video editing with the Avid system.

Mercer County Community College/ completed non-credit course in grant-writing. Put skills to use obtaining four grants totaling more than $4,000 (see community service below)

AWARDS

Various work has been submitted for Pulitzer consideration by Newsday, NY Newsday, the Star Ledger and the Bergen Record. NY Newsday Pulitzer finalist 1995.

Have won many state, national and one international reporting prizes. Won two in-house monetary awards at Crain’s Publications for enterprise reporting.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Active member of NJ Chapter of Sierra Club.

Cranbury Historical Preservation Society past vice president and publicity chairman.

The Woman’s Club of Cranbury, chairman of conservation group,

Successfully obtained four community grants, three for the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society and one for the Woman’s Club of Cranbury, a total of more than $4,000 in awards to support these organizations.

NYC Women in Health Management recognition award for moderating two annual Leadership Event panel discussions.

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