Résumé

JOHN WATSON

15+ years of freelance journalism, with more than 150 articles published in more than 25 publications
Topics have covered business, real estate, science, technology, agriculture, the entertainment business, food, restaurants, and travel, among others
Generalist with a knack for picking up new technical and business topics quickly
Expert at meeting editorial, deadline and word length needs on time and on topic

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1979-Present

Freelance Photojournalist and Marcom Writer
Current projects include serving as a contract medical writer for the UC Davis Health System, writing all key articles for the campus’ MIND Matters newsletter, focusing on autism research
Have contributed more than 150 articles to the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, L.A. Times Syndicate, San Jose Mercury News, SPACE.com, Los Angeles Business Journal, Silicon Valley Business Journal, Food & Wine, Shape Cooks, The Sacramento Bee, Bon Appetit, Copley Newspapers, Ad Age, On Cable Magazine and Kagan VCR Newsletter, frequently with original photos.
Photography assignments have resulted in work being published in Time, Newsweek, People, Us, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, among many other publications.

May 2008-Present

Communications Officer
California State University Employees Union
Oversee communications for union representing 16,000 classified staff members at the California State University’s 23 campuses
Duties include writing press releases, biweekly newsletter, fact sheets and related materials, administering the union’s external and internal web sites, and providing counsel on messaging and talking points

June 2006-July 2007

Agilent Technologies
Worldwide Press Relations Manager
Oversaw international media outreach programs highlighting company’s life sciences and chemical analysis (LSCA) tools, including chromatographs, spectrometers and microarrays.

2004-June 2006

J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA
Senior Public Relations/Communications Manager
Responsible for the PR function for three medical research institutes affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco, specializing in basic research into AIDS, Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease, with an emphasis on stem cell research, genomics, proteomics and identification of potential therapeutic drug targets
Supervised six employees handling graphics, photography, publications, scientific editing and external/internal web administration
Managed media relations for October 2004 move-in to a world-class research facility
Edited employee newsletter, external magazine, annual reports and special publications

2001-2003

SGI, Mountain View, CA
Public Relations Manager, Sciences & Energy
Responsible for media relations for applications of SGI high-performance computing, visualization and storage technologies in such international industries as:

• Pharmaceuticals and drug discovery
• Genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics
• Medical imaging
• Science centers, museums and planetariums
• University and government research lab supercomputing
• Oil & gas exploration & production
  Managed free-lance writers and photographers supporting special projects.

1985-1997

UCLA EXTENSION, Los Angeles, CA
Public Information Representative
Developed media relations plans for more than 2,250 courses per year for the largest single-campus continuing education program in the U.S. in such subject areas as real estate, the entertainment industry, computer science, engineering, science, business and the humanities.
Twelve years experience working within a dynamic marketing department.
Utilized professional photography experience, taking photos and effectively integrating them into publicity campaigns.
Wrote bylined features about UCLA Extension for newspapers and magazines, including the Los Angeles Business Journal and Downtown News.

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts, Film/TV Communications
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Bachelor of Arts, English
California State University, San Francisco

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Mentoring high school students at the Andrew Hill High School biotechnology academy, assisting with college application essays, 2006-07
Member, Northern California Science Writers Association, 2000-present
PR Chair, Sierra Club, Loma Prieta Chapter, 2003

SPECIAL SKILLS

Bilingual English/Spanish; strong familiarity with French
Extensive publicity photography experience
Familiar with HTML and key PC office applications, including Word, Excel