James Risdon

PROFILE:

• Award-winning, fluently-bilingual journalist with 30-plus years of experience.
• Former executive director of a provincial, professional non-profit organization.
• Experienced communications manager for a Canadian municipality.
  
• Fluently bilingual, French and English.
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  Bachelor’s degree in journalism in the English language from Concordia University.
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  Business administration diploma with honours from CCNB-Bathurst, a French-language college.
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  Social sciences diploma from Dawson College, an English-language college.
• 
  Graduate of the Xerox sales program.
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  Freelance journalist whose clients have included Huddle.ca, The Epoch Times, The Chronicle Herald, The Telegram, The Guardian, the Cape Breton Post, The Winnipeg Free Press, Tactics, Canadian Defence Review, Auto Shop Business, Enterprise, Business In Vancouver, The Western Investor, Vancouver Lifestyles, The Leader, The News, The Langley Advance, The Now, and Northern News Services’ the Yellowknifer.
  
• Well-versed on all Microsoft Office products, Quark, Simply Accounting, and other industry software.
• 
  Team player with experience on several successful teams.
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  Reliable, honest and positive.
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  Good health. Métis.
• 
  Valid driver’s license.

WORK HISTORY:

Freelance Business journalist, clients included Davis Media, Immigration.ca, SaltWire Network’s 35 daily and community newspapers in Atlantic Canada, Huddle.ca, and Atlantic Business Magazine. July 2016 to present.

Editor, Daily Stars news websites: Developed fully-responsive news websites and managed news content on them, created and laid out ads, optimized sites for search engines, and developed advertising rate card for group of four Atlantic Canadian news websites. January 2014 to January 2017.

Communications Manager, City of North Battleford: Spokesman for municipal government and responsible for strategic communications. August 2014 to June 2015.

Regional Manager, Gogiro Atlantic Canada: Marketed and developed websites. . January 2010 to December 2012.

Publisher, The Belledune Messenger: Published a monthly publication for a corporate client, a municipal government. This involved selling advertising, researching, writing and editing editorial copy, taking photographs and laying out the publication. January 2009 to December 2012.

Synergies Document Solutions: Territory Manager for Xerox agency. Upon graduation from Xerox Learning Centre sales program, marketed and sold Xerox products and services in northeastern New Brunswick. January to November 2012.

Executive Director, New Brunswick College of Family Physicians: Successfully organized a provincial conference and annual general meeting by leading a team, fundraising by selling booth space in a trade show, responsibility for human resources, preparation of annual budget and financial reports, management of day-to-day operations of the organization and upgrading of its website, computer system and the establishment of a new office in a professional setting. June 2010 to July 2011.

Reporter, Telegraph-Journal: Researched and wrote news articles and took photographs for provincial daily newspaper in New Brunswick from bureau in Bathurst. November 2001 to August 2005.

Equity Markets Reporter, smallcapcenter: Researched and wrote stories about the North American equity markets and micro-cap stocks on tight deadlines for web-based content provider based in Vancouver, British Columbia with offices in New York, U.S.A. January to November 2001.

Managing Editor, Tactics Business Magazine: Researched, wrote and edited articles and managed freelancers and laid out publication specializing in shopping centre marketing for worldwide distribution. May to September 1999.

Freelance Journalist Specializing in Business Reporting, The Western Investor, Enterprise Magazine, CBC website, Business In Vancouver, Surrey Now, Langley Advance, Northern News Services, etc.: Researched, wrote, edited, took photographs and provided editorial consulting services for new products as a freelancer based in Surrey, British Columbia. May 1995 to April 1999,

Journalist, Business In Vancouver: Columnist covering the real estate industry and staff writer covering transportation and computer industries for business readership. March 1994 to April 1995.

Business Section Editor/Senior Reporter, The Burnaby/New West News: Reported local news for community newspaper covering two municipalities and produced award-winning feature. August 1992 to February 1994.

Wire Editor, The Daily Press: Edited national and international news, including sports coverage, from the wire and laid out roughly half this newspaper on a daily basis. Also collaborated on special projects. Part of news team which won three awards for Dome Mine strike coverage. May 1991 to July 1992.

Editor, The Opasquia Times: Managed the newsroom of a community newspaper out of The Pas, Manitoba and produced front pages which won journalism awards. February 1988 to November 1989.

Freelance Journalist, The Winnipeg Free Press: Wrote news stories out of The Pas, Manitoba for provincial daily newspaper based in Winnipeg. February 1988 to November 1989.

Editorial Assistant, The Suburban Newspapers: Proofread editorial copy for chain of Montreal-based weekly newspapers and wrote feature stories on homeless in Montreal and profile on former Premier Robert Bourassa. September 1982 to July 1983.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Arts, major in journalism
Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, 1987.

Business Administration diploma, honours
Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, Bathurst, New Brunswick, 2008.

Diplôme d'Enseignement Collégial, social sciences
Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec , 1981.

Officer Training Program (PIRO)
Combat Arms School
CFB Valcartier, Quebec, 1978.

Sales program graduate
Xerox Learning Centre
Mississauga, Ontario, 2012.