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Location:
Stony Point, NY, United States (GMT-05:00)
English Skills: (self-assessed)
5.0
Member Since:
July 15, 2008
Last Worked:
 
oDesk Ready:  
Yes
 
 
 
 

Patrick M. - Writer - Journalist - PR Specialist - even a little voice talent ... - Freelance Consultant, United States

For more than 25 years, I have written for all the media--print, radio, television, and (more recently) the Web.  

If you have something that needs expressing in words, I will learn about it and write about it, and that writing will be clear, concise, and expressive.

I also have many years of voice talent experience--so I can make your project sound good as well.

I am seeking opportunities to put these talents to good use on your projects.
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Recent Work History & Feedback
Buyer ID From/To Job Title Paid Feedback
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See All Tests Taken (3 items)
oDesk Tests Taken
Name of Test Score Percentile Date Taken Duration
Editing Skills Certification 4.40 96% TOP 10% 07/16/2008 16 min
English Test (Sentence Structure) 4.50 73% 07/16/2008 13 min
oDesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractors and Company Managers 4.40 65% 07/15/2008 32 min
Job Category Interests

Writing

Administrative Support

Audio / Video & Multimedia
Skills
Skill Experience Level Last Used Description
Radio Journalism (Voice and writing) 6 yrs 4.0 1989 See references to WRKL Radio, Voice of America, and WOI Television in my work history.
Web Writing and Editing 6 yrs 4.0 2008 http://www.obscenitycrimes.org
See description under "Morality in Media" for more details.
Writing & Editing 25 yrs 5.0 2008 See employment history and writing samples for more information
Certifications
Date Earned Name Score Percentile Organization Description
No Certifications
Employment History
From To Company Title/Role Description
03/2007 Present Hyundai of Nanuet Utility Administrator / Independent Contributor Back office administration at a busy import car retailer.  Also sales and service representative experience
09/2006 11/2006 TransTech Merchant Group Field Representative / Independent Contributor Local sales representative to retailers for a merchant processor
06/2005 09/2006 Advanced Field Services Field Representative / Independent Contributor Conducted on-site visits of residential real estate to collect data for insurers to make underwriting decisions.  Took photos, measured houses, filled in reports, uploaded data to Idaho headquarters.
04/1996 03/2005 Morality in Media Director of Media Relations / Executive
  • Web master: Learned HTML from scratch; helped to plan and design two sites;  conceived site re-design and worked with Web designer to execute the design; for the second site:  wrote copy; promoted the site with press releases and interviews; daily maintenance on both sites
  • E-mail newsletter editor: conceived weekly e-mail newsletter for media monitoring group. Grew subscription list from zero to thousands; wrote copy
  • Organized house e-mail news release distribution system
  • Arranged for hundreds of TV, radio and print interviews
  • Wrote news releases and arranged for distribution to national and local media
  • Radio interviews with American and overseas stations
  • Editor of a bi-monthly newsletter: wrote copy; arranged for outside writers; supervised outside vendor for layout, production, and mailing
  • Wrote or re-wrote three different handbooks on media and specialized legal issues
01/1990 12/1991 Prodigy Services Co Club Editorial Specialist / Independent Contributor Supervised on-line bulletin boards for a major on-line content provider
08/1987 05/1989 Iowa State University, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication Journalism writing teacher / Independent Contributor
  • Wrote M.S. thesis, The International Knowledge of Beginning Journalism Students.  Researched subject; obtained grant to finance research; paper read at national scholarly conference
  • Taught basic journalism writing course in association with full-time professor
08/1988 12/1988 WOI Television Morning News Producer / Independent Contributor Morning news producer for a network television affiliate produced four newscasts each morning; selected stories and added breaking news as needed.
06/1988 08/1988 Voice of America, Current Affairs Division Writer/Intern / Independent Contributor Wrote “The Prague Spring, 20 Years Later,” a 20-minute radio documentary; researched subject; interviewed scholars; used historic sound clips
01/1986 07/1987 WRKL Radio Freelance Reporter / Independent Contributor Journalist for local radio station: Wrote and produced short news stories; taped on-the spot interviews; wrote “Year in Review” roundup
Education
From To School Degree Area of Study Description
08/1987 05/1989 Iowa State University, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication Masters Journalism
09/1980 05/1982 State University of New York, College at Buffalo Bachelors Broadcasting
09/1978 05/1980 Rockland Community College Other Communications
  • Project Title: Why the Hudson Valley needs a Debate Union
  • Attachment: HVDU Letterhead -- Why HVDU.doc - 73.5KB
  • Completed: 07/16/2008
  • Category: Writing > Website Content
  • URL: none
  • Description: This is an article I wrote for my project, the Hudson Valley Debate Union.  Here I describe why the Debate Union is needed.  It will be posted to the HVDU Web site once it goes live.
  • Project Title: What happens at a Hudson Valley Debate Union debate?
  • Attachment: HVDU Letterhead -- What Happens.doc - 62.5KB
  • Completed: 07/16/2008
  • Category: Writing > Website Content
  • URL: none
  • Description: This is an article I wrote for my project, the Hudson Valley Debate Union.  Here I describe what happens at HVDU events, which are "Oxford-style" debates.  It will be posted at the HVDU Web site when it goes live.
  • Project Title: What's Your Wellness?
  • Attachment: What's Your Wellness.doc - 26KB
  • Completed: 02/01/2007
  • Category: Writing > Blog / Article Writing
  • URL: none
  • Description: This is a freelance article that I wrote for a wellness-oriented chiropractic clinic
  • Project Title: How CCTV fought the 7/7 terrorists in London
  • Attachment: SIA - CCTV and 7-7 London Bombings.doc - 493KB
  • Completed: 06/01/2006
  • Category: Writing > Blog / Article Writing
  • URL: none
  • Description: This was an article that I wrote "on spec" for a job prospect in 2006.
  • Project Title: The Year of the F Word
  • Attachment: Patrick McGrath -- YearOfTheFWord.doc - 31KB
  • Completed: 02/01/2004
  • Category: Writing > Blog / Article Writing
  • URL: none
  • Description: This was a roundup of the worst of television 2003.
  • Project Title: Michael Copps interview
  • Attachment: Patrick McGrath -- Copps interview.doc - 44KB
  • Completed: 12/04/2003
  • Category: Writing > Blog / Article Writing
  • URL: none
  • Description: This is the transcript of an interview I did with Federal Communications Commissioner Michael Copps.
  • Project Title: Dublin Debate Speech
  • Attachment: 2003-09-02 Dublin speech.doc - 21KB
  • Completed: 09/02/2003
  • Category: Writing > Other - Writing
  • URL: none
  • Description: This is the text of a speech I wrote and delivered at University College, Dublin, Ireland, at a debate on the motion, "This House believes pornography gives more pain than pleasure."
  • Project Title: MIM EMNL Samples
  • Attachment: Patrick McGrath -- MIM EMNL Samples.doc - 46KB
  • Completed: 03/04/2001
  • Category: Writing > Blog / Article Writing
  • URL: none
  • Description: These are samples of the Morality in Media E-mail newsletter from 2001.  I conceived the idea of the MIM EMNL, wrote most of the copy, and arranged for its weekly distribution.
  • Project Title: What can I do about 'porn spam'
  • Attachment: Patrick McGrath -- Porn Spam.doc - 37KB
  • Completed: 12/04/1998
  • Category: Writing > Blog / Article Writing
  • URL: none
  • Description: This is an article I wrote answering the question, "What can I do to stop porn spam from invading my e-mail in box?"
Hourly Assignment History
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Fixed-Price Assignment History
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oDesk Tests Taken
Name of Test Score Percentile Date Taken Duration
Editing Skills Certification 4.40 96% TOP 10% 07/16/2008 16 min
English Test (Sentence Structure) 4.50 73% 07/16/2008 13 min
oDesk Readiness Test for Independent Contractors and Company Managers 4.40 65% 07/15/2008 32 min