Michelle Vranizan Rafter

Current

Blogger at WordCount: Freelancing in the Digital Age
Contributing editor at Crain's Workforce Management
Reporter, editor, blogger at Self Employed (Self-employed)

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Past

Contributing writer at The Industry Standard
Internet columnist at Reuters
Staff writer at The Orange County Register

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Education

Marquette University
Loyola Marymount University

Recommended

5 people have recommended Michelle

Connections

490 connections

Industry

Writing and Editing

Websites

Michelle Vranizan Rafter’s Summary

I am a business reporter, editor and blogger based in Portland, Oregon, gateway to the Pacific Northwest.

I cut my reporting teeth working as a business and tech staff writer at the Orange County (CA) Register before a chance to cover the Internet boom lured me out of the newsroom and into business for myself. Since then, I have written about the latest Web apps and old-school employment practices, the biggest companies on the planet and the mom and pop shop down the street.

Over the years, I have written news, features, columns, Q&As, case studies and blog posts for print and online publishers such as Reuters, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Oregonian, Crains Workforce Management, CNET, Industry Standard, CBS MoneyWatch, Portfolio.com, Inc.com, Oregon Business, and many more. These days most of my writing goes directly online, so I have added link journalism, SEO and other Web-based practices to my writing repertoire. You won't have to twist my arm too hard to get me to take pictures for my stories.

Editors I work with appreciate my nose for news, resourcefulness, accuracy and ability to turn in flawless copy on deadline.

In 2008, I started the blog WordCount: Freelancing in the Digital Age to help independent writers and editors navigate the media industry evolution from print to online. Since its inception, WordCount has been recognized repeatedly as a top blog for writers and was recently tapped a 2009 Top 10 Blog for Writers by Michael Stelzners influential Writing White Papers blog.

When I am not writing, blogging or editing, I teach journalism classes and conduct workshops for conferences, companies and non-profit groups on getting the most out of social networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Michelle Vranizan Rafter’s Specialties:

General business and financial news
Fortune 1000 companies
Mid-market companies
Small business trends and issues
Workplace issues, including benefits & outsourcing
Recruiting, staffing and executive search
Business technology
Social media
Online privacy and security
Personal finance
The media industry

Michelle Vranizan Rafter’s Experience

Blogger

WordCount: Freelancing in the Digital Age

(Writing and Editing industry)

2008 — Present (1 year )
Contributing editor

Crain's Workforce Management

(Privately Held; Writing and Editing industry)

2004 — Present (5 years )

Provide ongoing coverage of HR industry trends and issues, including recruiting and staffing, benefits, training, outsourcing, relocation and expat programs, and employee rewards and recognitions.
Reporter, editor, blogger
Self Employed (Self-employed)

(Self-Employed; Writing and Editing industry)

May 1995 — Present (14 years 7 months)

My work has appeared in:

Crain's Workforce Management
Inc.com
Conde Nast Portfolio.com
CBS MoneyWatch.com
Oregon Business
LearnVest.com
Norton Advantage
RFID Journal
YourSecurityResource.com
TheGeekWeekly.com

And coming soon...
Writers Digest
The Big Money
LearnVest.com

I've previously written for Reuters, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Oregonian, Industry Standard, Internet World, CNET, Online Banking Report and others.
Contributing writer

The Industry Standard

(Privately Held; Publishing industry)

1996 — 2000 (4 years )

Regular contributor to ground-breaking Internet industry magazine from charter issue through the Internet bust, covering start ups, e-commerce, Internet technology, B-schools, workplace issues and more.
Internet columnist

Reuters

(Public Company; RTR.L; Financial Services industry)

May 1995 — September 2000 (5 years 5 months)

Created and wrote Reuters' first weekly Internet column, called Livewire, which was picked up by newspapers and websites all over the world.
Staff writer

The Orange County Register

(Privately Held; Newspapers industry)

1987 — 1995 (8 years )

Covered computer, telecom and Internet, wrote weekly tech column, helped plan and write weekly BusinessMonday section, helped launch and produce weekly personal tech section. Reporter of the year nominee. At this job, my byline was Michelle Vranizan, my maiden name.

Michelle Vranizan Rafter’s Education

Marquette University

MA candidate , Journalism , 1980 — 1981

Activities and Societies:

Journalism School Research Fellow
Loyola Marymount University

BA , English , 1976 — 1980

Communications Student of the Year Award

Activities and Societies:

Editor in chief, Los Angeles Loyolan
Staff writer and editor, Los Angeles Loyolan