| Back to Our Team |

Margaret J.A. James

maggie@mjwordsmith.com

A seasoned, client-oriented, deadline-driven communications professional with extensive experience,
both working independently and assembling and managing project teams, in print and
Internet/intranet publishing, broadcasting and corporate communications.
Her efforts have been focused strongly on the technology sector.

Key areas of expertise include:

  • Seasoned Journalist and Editor
  • Design, production and project management of public/media relations, marketing and promotion materials
  • Writing and adapting content for Internet and intranet publishing
  • Newspaper and magazine production and management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Founder / Senior Partner — MJWordsmith Communications, Ottawa, Ontario — 2009 - Present

MJWordsmith.com (MJW) is an agile, deadline-driven communications service bureau, designed to help
organizations of all sizes meet their most pressing communications challenges.

  • Created the MJWordsmith concept and brand
  • Designed and maintains the MJW website
  • Provides a variety of core MJW services including:
    •   Writing and Editing
    •   Graphic Design and Production
    •   Project Management
    •   Website Design and Maintenance
  • Assembles and manages MJW project teams
  • Coordinates subcontractors
  • Supervises marketing, sales and administration staff

Co-Founder / Managing Editor — TECHLifePost.com, Ottawa, Ontario — 2008 - 2009

TECHLifePost.com (TLP) began as a daily consumer-oriented online magazine focusing on consumer technology and 'digital living'. In April, 2009, TLP was reinvented as a social media commentary vehicle.

  • Created the TECHLifePost.com brand
  • Co-designed the website and created/maintained a second, companion website
  • Contributed regular columns and features
  • Supervised staff writers and freelance contributors
  • Maintained all editorial content and static pages

Co-Founder / Publisher / Managing Editor — MONiTOR magazine, Ottawa, Ontario — 1993 - 2008

MONiTOR magazine (1993 - 2009) was a monthly consumer-oriented magazine with a circulation of 36,000 across the National Capital Region, Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.

  • Created the MONiTOR brand
  • Designed the publication
  • Edited and arranged all editorial content
  • Created and produced regular columns and features
  • Supervised staff writers and freelance contributors
  • Supervised advertising, production and administration staff
  • Liaised with printing, distribution and other contractors
  • Created all layout pages bearing editorial content in every issue
  • Approved pre-press proofs
  • Created, maintained and managed all content for MONiTOR website
  • Supervised MONiTOR presence at trade shows, community events and other outreach opportunities

President — GRL Communications Inc., Ottawa, Ontario — 1986 - 2008

GRL Communications Inc. was a corporate communications service bureau catering mainly to government, technology sector and institutional clients.

  • Assembled and managed teams which designed and produced technical, clinical, conference, communications and promotional materials for a wide range of high-level government and private sector clients including:
    •   Federal government departments and agencies
    •   Aerospace, engineering and information technology firms
    •   National professional associations
    •   National amateur sports associations
    •   Universities and community colleges
    •   Environmental and health sector lobby groups
    •   Ottawa YM-YWCA, United Way of Ottawa, Alzheimer Society of Ottawa
  • Provided project management services to the above organizations as required
  • Liaised with printing, distribution and other sub-contractors
  • Coordinated sales and marketing activities
  • Supervised market development

Managing Editor — Ottawa Business News, Ottawa, Ontario — 1986

Ottawa Business News, which débuted in March, 1986, was the region's first dedicated business newspaper. It evolved into the Ottawa Business Journal.

  • Hired and coordinated editorial staff
  • Hired and coordinated advertising sales staff
  • Contributed editorial content - Municipal Beat Correspondent
  • Developed overall design of publication
  • Supervised pre-press production / approved press proofs
  • Liaised with printing and distribution contractors
Journalist / Broadcaster — Various Central Canada radio stations — 1975 - 1986

Served as a reporter, journalist and on-air news broadcaster at the following broadcast outlets:
  • CHNR Radio (Redmond Group) — Simcoe, Ontario
  • CJBQ/CJNH Radio (Morton Group) — Belleville/Trenton, Ontario
  • CFRA/CFMO Radio (CHUM Group) — Ottawa, Ontario
  • Served as Parliamentary Correspondent for the CHUM radio network

EDUCATION

  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
  • Radio Broadcasting Program, Humber College of Applied Arts and Sciences, Toronto, Ontario
  • Certificate, Management Techniques, Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario

SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

  • Corel Draw Suite
  • Adobe CS2
  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  • MS Office Suite

REFERENCES

Upon request
x

© 2009 MJWordsmith Communications