Member of:

The prestigious National Press Club

Mediabistro

LinkedIn

Please also read the “About Me” page on this website for more information about my experience, ethics, and work style, and to get answers to FAQs. Pam@authorpambaker.com

Experience: Full-time freelance writer and book author for 10 years; sole proprietor of PR/ad agency for 8 years prior. Agency client list included, but not limited to: DISNEY ON ICE, MEAD, MUTEC (Panasonic batteries), JOHNSTON INDUSTRIES, DVC CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, PRATT WHITNEY/PCI, MILWAUKEE BREWERS BASEBALL, TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES (TSYS), RINGLING BROTHERS CIRCUS, BRADLEY SPECIALTY RETAILING (70+ stores nationwide), CHAR-BROIL GRILLS (international catalog), COLUMBUS CIVIC CENTER, MARTIN ARMY HOSPITAL, ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL FOUNDATION, COBB HOSPITAL, PHOEBE PUTNEY HOSPITAL, and approximately 150 other accounts..

Beyond that, my work history includes experience as Advertising/Marketing Director for a furniture retailer, and advertising sales rep for a Fox network television station.

I also teach the occasional creative writing course at Columbus State University in the Continuing Education Department.

Books: More books are in the works, as always, but here are six that are already published and that you can find in bookstores or on Amazon.com:

1)  Atlanta: The Making of a World Class City
2)  Oakland: A Portrait of Progress
3) Thousand Oaks Westlake Village: A Contemporary Portrait
4)  Houston County: In Our Own Words
5)  Columbus Celebrates the Millennium: An International Quest
6) Columbus: The People, The Spirit, The Promise

Hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, for example:

1. Financial news for Institutional Investor Magazine – the “bible” of finance news --  (American cover story Oct. 2004; European cover stories Feb 2005 & March 2005 issues covering the UK, Belgium, Ireland and Turkey; American cover story Oct. 2007; European cover story Feb 2008 issue covering the UK and France);
   
2. Technical news, features and product reviews for E-Commerce Times, Linux Insider, TechNewsWorld, CRM Buyer, MacNewsWorld, Success Magazine, Success Magazine online, IT Business Insider, NPTechNews.com, MedTechJournal.com, Inside CRM, Semantics Report, NewsFactor, CRM Daily, Enterprise Linux I.T., Data Storage Today, Enterprise Security Today, Wireless News, Tech News, Wireless IQ and Telematics Journal (automotive);
3. Business & political news for CIO Today magazine and online, Georgia Trend magazine, Economos International Business magazine, Florida Hotels & Motels magazine, and Bill Shipp's Georgia;
4. General interest stories for Knight-Ridder/McClatchy and Grimes Publications newspapers;
5. Specialty features for niche publications such as Divorce360.com, Rezoom.com, Boomster.com, and others
6. Women’s cover and feature stories for Her Magazine, Her Magazine online, and commentaries for Knight-Ridder/McClatchy and Grimes Publications newspapers;
7. Columns including, but not limited to “Table for One” a monthly column for “re-singles” for Her magazine; and, a weekly newspaper column for Grimes Publications called "Life After Love" that targeted divorced women 25-54.
8. Travel feature stories for Boomster.com, Her Magazine and Her Magazine online.

Plus….

1) Blogs. One example: I blogged for Success Magazine on helpful technology news and business tips for a small and medium-sized (SMB) business audience.  See sample on Clips/Samples Page on this website.

2) Podcasts. Beyond my writing abilities, I have a good voice for audio work. Hear a sample of my podcast work here: http://www.podtech.net/home/2274/making-mobile-productive-for-small-business-travelers

3) Web content. I provide web site content for a multitude of corporate interests including, but not limited to, Imagination Publishing (Motorola), JMDS (Joint Military Development Services, a government contracting firm), ABI Research (global analytical research firm), and The Finley Firm (law firm).

4) Analytical reports. Most notably for VisionGain Research, a research firm headquartered in London, for whom I authored numerous analytical reports under the pen name “Pam Duffey.” Specifically, I have conducted research and authored the findings report for each of the following topics:

a) “Content Convergence 2006-2011: Shifting the Value Chain Dynamics”
b) “Apple In Wireless: Strategic Options in a Converged Marketplace”
c) “Municipal Broadband Networks: Market Impact and Implications, 2006-2011”
d) “The Blackberry: Still No 1 as Wireless E-Mail Market Reaches Inflection Point”
e) “Yahoo in Mobile, Analysis and Market Insight to 2012”

Interestingly, my first report for VisionGain, titled “Apple In Wireless: Strategic Options in a Converged Marketplace,” is credited with literally putting the firm on the map.

5) Truckloads of other types of writing including video scripts, ad copy, speeches, marketing materials, grant writing, press releases, technical material, and ghostwriting work.

A variety of clips are posted on this website, as are references. More are available upon request.

Awards & Recognitions:

• 2004 Nominee for the Templeton-Cambridge Journalism Fellowship in Science and Religion in the UK
• Paper Industry Award for Paper Making Documentary (that I both wrote and directed)
• Proclamation from the City of Columbus, Georgia for a series I did on the city in Georgia Trend Magazine. The only other author to receive this recognition was the legendary Carson McCullers (The Heart is a Lonely Hunter)

Public Relations / Media Relations: In my former career, I have booked clients on CNN, CNBC, NBC prime time news shows, Good Morning America, Public Radio and other notable media. I have obtained positive press coverage for clients in the Washington Post, NY Times, USA TODAY, People magazine, Fortune magazine, Investors Daily, Business Week, Knight-Ridder and Cox newspapers, and other reputable national and international periodicals. For a sample of  my abilities in this regard, Click Here to see a news story published in “WHO”  (the name People magazine works under in Australia due to copyright laws in that country). The story was carried by People in all the countries the publication serves. This particular clip has a note attached from the reporter and a photo of me with my client in the story. Proof, as it were, is in the printed page.

I have also helped broker book deals, and film and TV movie rights for clients. For example: Alina Fernandez Revuelta, my client, Castro’s daughter, and the person featured in the People/WHO magazine clip on this site, benefited from a book deal and a made-for-TV movie deal in the midst of our handling the ensuing international media crisis after her daring escape from Cuba. The clip will give you more details on her story.

Work Style:  I am a very versatile and prolific writer. I can write in a variety of vocabulary levels, on virtually any topic, and in several tones and voices. Although well versed in a number of formats, I always write in AP style (the standard format in journalism) unless otherwise directed.

When speech-writing or ghosting, I study my client’s speech patterns, common phrase choices, vocabulary levels, and speech impediments (if any) in order to write exactly as that person would normally speak or write. This has the added advantage of helping the speaker remember his lines, and make speeches or text sound natural, and appear relaxed and genuine.

I guarantee my work, and generally include one full rewrite and several draft changes in my pricing to ensure everyone gets exactly what they ordered from me. In order to ensure our working relationship is mutually beneficial, I charge a kill fee of 50% if a project is discontinued anytime after the start date for any reason. If more than half of the project is written (either in draft or final form), I charge the agreed upon fee in the percentage equal to work completed, whether or not the work has actually been delivered; but my minimum charge remains 50% of the total agreed upon fee.

I sell first time publishing rights only, unless otherwise agreed in writing. In work-for-hire contracts, rights revert to me if my fees are not paid in full within 90 days of due date. Otherwise, the industry standard applies: copyright belongs to you or your company in work-for-hire arrangements.

I am an excellent short study, even on the most complex subjects. I have a knack for getting interviews when other writers can't get in the door.

A top-notch researcher and fact checker with good editing skills, I tend to prefer writing and researching to editing and proofing. I have a large network of state, regional, national, and international contacts that enables me to quickly find a story and to provide excellent sources and authoritative quotes for any given piece.

A big picture thinker, I am highly organized, a natural multi-tasker, and am meticulous about chasing the devil out of the details.

Topics On Which I Excel: Business, international business, technology news, politics, women's issues, local, regional and national news, travel/destination, and arts/entertainment.

Topics On Which I Never Write: Sports and porno.

Computer Skills and Work Delivery: I am highly skilled at Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and using key word and key phrase story incorporation. I also excel at maximizing Web 2.0 social sites by drawing readers in and enticing them to respond and join the online community.

My work is available in electronic or hard-copy format – your choice. Yes, you can have both formats if you wish.  If you prefer overnight delivery, please provide me with your UPS, FedEx, or other overnight service account number. I usually submit work as an email attachment unless otherwise requested.

Currently I work in PC format using the following software: Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, OpenOffice, and Adobe Dreamweaver CS3.