JAMES D. PLESHINGER

**** ******* ***** 513-***-****

Cincinnati, OH 45224 ablu44@r.postjobfree.com

COMMUNUNICATIONS

Project Management * Creative Development * Staff Leadership * Strategic

Planning

An Award-Winning Communications Professional with repeated successes in

communication industries, looking for new challenges in a fast-changing

news industry. A focused leader with a unique combination of creative

marketing/writing and strong analytical skills. Experienced in every phase

of operation from newsroom leadership to front-line editing. Proven track

record developing and coaching strong proactive teams that achieve company

goals. Articulate communicator who effectively interacts with all

organizational levels. Web experience!

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER - Cincinnati, OH 1997 - Present

The leading provider of news and information in the Cincinnati region. A

Gannett owned newspaper.

Sports Design Desk Chief (2004 - Present)

Key member of the newspaper's leadership team. Successfully managed

several responsibilities on a regular basis as a member of the copy desk

leadership team.

. Initiated and carried out three online projects in the last year.

- Cincinnati.Com/Runners High: Launched, report/write and operated web

page that serves as an online social networking hub for Cincinnati-

area runners and fitness enthusiasts

- Dad's Diary: Blog chronicling my family's trip to China in February

2009 to adopt a four-year-old boy. Blog has continued, focusing on

family life

- Fairview Campout: Blogged about experience camping out in line to

register our older son for kindergarten in November 2008.

. Produced special sections, including every Baseball preview section

since 2000. Won several awards:

- 2008: Associated Press Top 10 Special Section; Kentucky Press

Association Best Special section

- 2007: Ohio Associated Press Best Sports Special Section

- 2006: Ohio Associated Press Best Sports Special Section runner-

up

. Planned and implemented the 2008 kids' "Draw the Reds" online event

attracting 100 children to participate.

. Design the Sunday front page and the weekly sports pages.

- Oversee design of section to ensure consistency while

encouraging creativity.

- Edit articles and write headlines for sports.

- Serve as copy chief in charge of the overall night operations

one night/week.

- Created prototypes for new features, such as streamlined, "Top

of the Second" and a redesign of high school all stars pages.

- Collaborate with sports editor and deputy sports editor to

create alternative ways to creatively present articles.

Sports Copy Editor/Designer (1997 - 2004)

* Named one of ten "Best in Show" winners for outstanding achievement in

the newsroom.

* Won the Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 Sports Special Section

in 2000 and 2001, honorable mention.

PRESS & SUN BULLETIN - Binghamton, NY 1996 - 1997

Leading provider of news and information in the Binghamton area. A Gannett

owned newspaper.

Presentation Editor/News Management Team

Main copy editor and designer for newspaper front page

* Designed the 1996 presidential election cover and redrew the cover

between editions twice to update the developing story of Princess

Diana's fatal car crash.

* Promoted rapidly to the position of Presentation Editor.

DAYTON DAILY NEWS - Dayton, Ohio 1995 - 1996

A daily newspaper. Owned by Cox Enterprises.

Sports Copy Editor/Page Designer

Responsible for the main sports front/inside page design. Planned and

edited the Sunday sports section. Designed and edited the expanded version

of the Reds/Indians playoff pages.

THE POUGHKEEPSIE JOURNAL - Poughkeepsie, NY 1988 - 1995

A daily newspaper. The oldest in New York and third oldest in the nation.

A Gannett owned newspaper.

Assistant Sports Editor (1993 - 1995)

Responsible for day to day night operations, overseeing cover and inside

page design, headline writing and copy editing.

* Promoted to assistant sports editor, Number 2 position in sports

section.

* Selected as copy editor for USA Today Baseball Weekly for the

Gannett's USA Today loaner program.

Editor, Mid-Hudson Extra (1992 - 1993)

* Launched community news weekly.

* Managed one full-time writer, one full-time photographer, five

columnists and contributors.

* Oversaw sections switch from tabloid to broadsheet and implemented new

features such as regional, history and antiques column.

Designer (1990 - 1992)

Produced all prototypes for paper's redesign.

* New redesigned paper named Gannett's Most Improved Daily Newspaper.

* Served as main designer for Life section, producing features for front

and inside pages.

Projects Editor (1990)

* Planned, assigned stories and photos. Designed and edited special

sections of 12 pages or more.

EDUCATION

M.S. English - 1986 - 1988

(70% complete)

Graduate Assistant

B.A. Journalism - 1986, Kent State University - Kent, OH

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