Bill Zimmerman

Current

• Copy Editor at Orlando Sentinel
• Freelance journalist at Zimmerman

Past

• Assistant Editor at TurfNet
• Assistant News Editor/Metro at Palm Beach Post
• Asst. Night News Editor at Daytona Beach News-Journal

• Sports reporter at Vero Beach Press Journal
• Assistant sports editor at Leesburg Daily Commercial
• Sports reporter at Lenoir (N.C.) News-Topic
• Sports reporter at Hickory (N.C.) Daily Record

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Education

• Clemson University
• Lake Weir High School

Recommended

17 people have recommended Bill

Connections

139 connections

Industry

Media Production

Bill Zimmerman’s Summary

Complete and accurate information will enable media entities -- whether in print, on the Web or in broadcast form -- to rise to the top of ever-expanding choices.

Journalism organizations must break information down to the newest and most informative points needed by their audience, present them creatively, then add the background to tell a story in complete fashion. Those that succeed will become relied upon by a broad audience and enjoy success in their mission. Those who take lazier ways out will fall into the clutter of blogs and other quasi-news sources.

My goal as a journalist is to work hard every day to present solid, fair news that our staff's audience will find credible -- and to make it stand out above the fray.

Bill Zimmerman’s Specialties:

-- Content-based presentation skills
-- Visual design education
-- Forward-thinking coaching of colleagues, constructive feedback
-- Ability to put self in audience's shoes in order to apply news judgment
-- Eye for using alternative story form skills within a publication's established styles

Bill Zimmerman’s Experience

• Copy Editor

  Orlando Sentinel

  (Public Company; Media Production industry)

  January 2008 — Present (1 year 11 months)

  Edit copy for local and regional news sections to ensure clarity and accuracy; write headlines.

• Freelance journalist

  Zimmerman

  (Public Company; Media Production industry)

  June 1990 — Present (19 years 6 months)

  I have written recently for the Palm Beach Post and the Daytona Beach News-Journal, covering sporting events in the Orlando area, and submitted satirical pieces to SportsComedian.com. In the past, I have written for International Speedway Corp., the Albany (Ga.) Herald, the Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald-Journal, the Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel and the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times.

• Assistant Editor

  TurfNet

  (Media Production industry)

  July 2007 — November 2007 (5 months)

  Edited stories for TurfNet, the Magazine, until it folded with the release of the December issue. Also reported news, wrote features and compiled briefs and listings. Also edited for the news section of www.TurfNet.com and posted stories to the Web site, including using HTML coding to make them reader-friendly.

• Assistant News Editor/Metro

  Palm Beach Post

  (Media Production industry)

  July 2004 — June 2007 (3 years )

  I was hired as a copy editor and page designer, earning a promotion in Sept. 2006 to lead the design desk for the local section.

• Asst. Night News Editor

  Daytona Beach News-Journal

  (Media Production industry)

  May 1997 — July 2004 (7 years 3 months)

  I was hired as a copy editor and page designer on the news desk, and was promoted to an assistant focusing initially on design -- ended up expanding my duties to include managing story play while serving in a handful of leadership roles that were similar.

• Sports reporter

  Vero Beach Press Journal

  (Media Production industry)

  September 1996 — April 1997 (8 months)

  Mostly wrote local sports such as high-school games and recreational features. Covered the Los Angeles Dodgers in spring training. Compiled wire roundups for pro and college sports. Also kept a hand in page design, building the sports front once a week toward the end of my tenure.

• Assistant sports editor

  Leesburg Daily Commercial

  (Media Production industry)

  December 1994 — September 1996 (1 year 10 months)

  Was hired as a sports copy editor, then served one year as assistant sports editor before moving to a larger company. One of the most intense learning experiences of my career.

• Sports reporter

  Lenoir (N.C.) News-Topic

  (Media Production industry)

  January 1994 — December 1994 (1 year )

• Sports reporter

  Hickory (N.C.) Daily Record

  (Media Production industry)

  1993 — 1993 (less than a year)

Bill Zimmerman’s Education

• Clemson University

  B.A. , English, minor in Journalism , 1989 — 1993

  Continuing education in journalism industry:
  -- American Press Institute design seminar, Sept. 2001
  -- Poynter’s Leadership for New Leaders seminar, June 2003
  -- Orlando Sentinel's Exploring Newsroom Leadership, 2007-08
  -- Poynter's Advanced Copy Editing: Words/Images, Dec. 2008

• Lake Weir High School

Additional Information

Bill Zimmerman’s Interests:

-- Grant writing/editing

Bill Zimmerman’s Honors:

-- 2004, First place (staff), Front page design, Mid-Florida Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists

-- 2003, First place (staff), Front page design, Florida Society of Newspaper Editors

-- 2003, Second place (staff), Local section-front design, FSNE

-- 1997, Second place, Event Story, less than 50,000 circ., Florida Sports Writers Association

-- 1997, Second place (staff), Enterprise Story, less than 50,000 circ., FSWA

-- 1993, First place, Event Story, collegiate, South Carolina Press Association

Bill Zimmerman’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch