Linda L. Briggs
Office (619) 281-6468
LBriggs@LindaBriggs.com
EXPERIENCE:
Owner, Double Mocha Media January 2003 -- Present
As freelance editor and technology writer, I produce articles, white papers, case studies, marketing copy, podcasts, and other content for a variety of clients, including some of the largest firms in the technology marketplace.
My specialty is covering the intersection of business and technology – helping both business managers and technical professionals grasp the importance of business and technology issues. Recent projects include:
n Writing articles, white papers and case studies for a high-tech publishing company 1105 Media (formerly 101communications) on business, technology, government and education issues.
n Writing and editing white papers and cases studies for clients including Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp., Oracle Corp., and Hewlett-Packard.
n Creating white papers for business technology managers including: best practices in outsourcing, and using service catalogs to meet compliance needs.
n Creating content for specific areas of Microsoft Corp.’s Web site, and acting as technical editor on associated direct mail copy and demand generation pieces for both developers and infrastructure experts.
1105 Media Inc..,
Senior Editorial Director Nov. 1998 – Nov. 2002
Promoted several times to a director position at this high-tech media company (formerly 101 Communications Inc.) that owns a number of targeted technical and business publications and events.
As Senior Editorial Director, was responsible for managing the editorial products and staffs at multiple 101 publications and properties, including Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine, Application Development Trends and Enterprise Systems, along with related conferences, Web sites, and electronic properties. Online publications included ENTmag.com (covers Microsoft server products) and CertCities.com (focuses on technical certification programs). Also responsible for over 20 electronic newsletters, as well as Web sites associated with each magazine. I chose to leave in November 2002 to pursue a personal sabbatical.
Achievements:
- Worked with business side to close down several unprofitable publications and e-mail products, including magazines and newsletter products focused on Linux, Hewlett-Packard and Unisys. Helped to carefully retain some content and to shift advertisers to existing publications.
- Designed, hired outside contributors, and launched or revamped several profitable e-mail newsletters.
- Handled logistics, layoffs and hiring of new editors in moving magazine offices from
Editor-in-Chief, Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Aug. 1994 – Nov. 1998
As founding editor, worked with bare-bones team of publisher, marketing director and art director, and with the Microsoft Training and Certification group, to launch this award-winning magazine and grow it from an idea, to a respected 128-page controlled circulation monthly magazine reaching 130,000 technical professionals who install and support Microsoft products.
Directly managed a half-million dollar budget and eventual staff of eight editors. (Magazine was acquired by 101communications in November 1997.)
Instrumental in planning and launch of the TechMentor series of conferences associated with the magazine, which now generates over $500,000 in revenue per conference. Served as conference chair in planning content, managing budget, and inviting speakers.
Instrumental in design, development and management of MCPmag.com, which grew to several million hits and over 1.4 million pages served a month.
Provided the editorial vision and managed the launch of CertCities.com, a dynamic, award-winning Web site for technology professionals interested in certification.
Achievements:
- Despite limited budget, created well-respected, award-winning publication that continues to be highly popular today.
- With no increase in staff, smoothly supervised conversion of magazine from bi-monthly to monthly in January 1997.
- Over time, as magazine grew, hired and managed staff of eight print and Web editors with no turnover in staff.
Pinnacle Publications Inc.,
Editor-in-chief, Easy Approach newsletter Dec. 1993 – Dec. 1994
Hired by Pinnacle Publishing to launch this monthly print newsletter for technical users of Lotus Approach, a database product similar to Microsoft Access.
Developed an editorial calendar, budget, and submission processes, launched newsletter, then continued to plan all content, manage budget, hire writers and edit the newsletter.
OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES:
§ Highly rated speaker at Folio magazine conferences (Topics: Web site development and e-newsletter production)
§ Vice-president, Society for Technical Communication,
EDUCATION:
§ BA, Technical Journalism,
§ Numerous computer and technical courses,
§ Two-week Professional Publishing courses,