Brett’s photography
Summary
As the co-creator of The Journalism Shop, I built this website using a multi-purpose WordPress template and a ridiculous number of plugins. Besides the functionality intended for our members, I hope this site displays my range of skills, which include consulting, project management, writing, editing, technology, trainer, page designer and web designer. I am a strong team leader with the ability to bring together disparate members. I have supported Gannett, Cox, Tronc and McClatchy newsrooms around the United States.
Recent Projects
Experience
Editor & Publisher
McDowell Mountain Ranch Real Estate News
November 2016 – Present | Scottsdale, Arizona
I oversee all aspects of writing, editing, production and ad sales of a 4,000-circulation, 21-year-old, professionally-produced newsletter that publishes six times a year.
Contributing Editor
McDowell Mountain Ranch Real Estate News
April 2013 – November 2016| Scottsdale, Arizona
I edit and write portions of an unusually relevant community newsletter that serves about 4,000 homes in McDowell Mountain Ranch.
Senior Consultant
Red Badge Consulting, Inc.
April 2011 – Present | Scottsdale, Arizona
I provide remote and in-person configuration, training and support for newspapers installing the CCI NewsGate pagination system. I am currently working on the McClatchy Newsgate 3.0 project. Previously, I worked on the Gannett Design Studio project, which involved converting all of their properties to CCI’s Newsgate multi-platform Content Management System.
Co-founder
The Journalism Shop
July 2009 – Present | Scottsdale, Arizona
I designed and built TheJournalismShop using Dot Net Nuke technology to help former Los Angeles Times journalists find freelance work.
Contractor
Stateline.org (PEW Charitable Trusts)
October 2009 – December 2012 | Scottsdale, Arizona
Aggregate policy news for Stateline.org, part of the Pew Charitable Trust, under tight deadline.
Editor
TradersQuest
August 2006 – May 2009 | Chicago
I operated TradersQuest, an online school that contracts with experienced traders to teach the ins and outs of futures and options markets. I helped our teachers convert their knowledge into online courses consisting of video, text, quizzes, PowerPoint and live trading. I also was responsible for sales, managing a store, SalesForce and marketing at TradersQuest.
Communications Director
FuturePath Trading, LLC
August 2006 – March 2009 | Chicago
I used all my journalism and technical skills in this to job to:
- Write sales pitch to T.D. Ameritrade that resulted in a multi-million offer for FuturePath.
- Manage all facets of communications and marketing at 300+ client brokerage responsible for large percentage of CME Group’s trading volume at that time.
- Manage Saleforce.com project, including the training and support of the staff.
- Write correspondence and produce reports providing clear communication of company performance, mission objectives and directives.
- Manage company websites, domain names, sales fliers and business cards.
- Achieve record click-through rates for ad placed on key industry Web site targeting prospective customers.
Business Systems Analyst
Los Angeles Times
August 1998 – August 2006 (8 years 1 month) Greater Los Angeles Area
I helped implement and manage the pagination system at the Los Angeles Times. I customized applications such as Microsoft Word and helped configure Layout Champ, a design tool similar to Quark and InDesign.
- I worked as a news editor on the National Edition my first year at the Times before moving onto pagination and redesign projects.
- I also authored freelance articles and book reviews.
Pagination Editor
The Palm Beach Post
January 1997 – August 1998 | West Palm Beach, Florida Area
I partially managed move to Sun-based pagination system (DTI), which helped save Cox Enterprises millions of dollars. Planned and implemented incremental roll out. Trained more than 100 employees. Facilitated communications and served as liaison among multiple departments.
News Editor
East Valley Tribune
June 1986 – December 1997 | Mesa, Arizona
- Managed award-winning newsroom staff of about 35 people for six of my years here. Responsibilities included editorial decision-making, coordinating coverage of news events and publishing content free of mistakes. I was responsible for the newspaper’s typographical appearance and content, and for hiring, personnel decisions and reviews.
- Displayed consistent, carefully considered decision-making by determining editorial content and design of major news events.
- Served as a team leader who implemented the pagination of the entire paper on Digital Technologies International. I redesigned the workflow and trained most of the staff, which allowed for the elimination of about 10 production employees.
- Worked in a variety of roles during my 10.5 years at the Tribune, including: A1, metro, wire and opinion news editor; and copy, slot and production editor.
Brett’s Tweets
@DanaSchwartzzz Sorry to hear it.
@realDonaldTrump Could you PLEASE stop calling people names?
@DanaSchwartzzz I'm with you, but I just read through 150 vitriol-laced comments on friend's post saying he decided to vote for Warren. Wow.
WriteThru
Contact
Additional Projects
March 2015 – June 2016
I provided onsite support for journalists using CCI’s NewsGate print and online Content Management System. I also configured design tools to enhance user efficiency and experiences. I have an excellent record for meeting and regularly beating deadlines.
I helped Gannett convert all of its newspapers to the CCI NewsGate Content Management System, which allows print and online publishing from one massive editorial system. My role was to help set up the new system, train users around the nation and provide real-time support.
Built and helped client design WordPress website for his overseas product design and manufacturing business.
Trade Interlink
Volunteer Work
January 2008 – Present
Ex-laters is a closed Yahoo group of nearly 250 former Los Angeles Times journalists who share information on career opportunities, pension and health care issues as well as relevant LA Times news. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/exlaters/info
The semi-closed Facebook group L.A. Times Line is an offshoot of ex-laters, which I started in 2103 to help current and former LA Times journalists remain in touch with each other. I keep this group of nearly 400 members active and relevant by posting 8-10 times a day on key industry news, promotions, job openings and deaths. https://www.facebook.com/groups/latimes.line/
July 2015 – September 2015
Help with kitchen prep and food service at Umom in Phoenix.
May 2012 – January 2014
As a first-year coach, I led a team of five youngsters, including my son, to the FIRST LEGO League state meet at Arizona State University. Out of 300 teams in Arizona, our small team placed seventh out of 50 teams that made it to state. During my time at Desert Community Robotics, I also mentored about a dozen children and helped organize STEM-related field trips. We also built underwater sea perches and worked with Raspberry Pi circuit boards.
Education
Indiana University, 1986
BA Journalism
BA Political Science
Testimonials
Christian McDonald
Brett is very dedicated to his work. He has a great attention to detail and wants to “get it right” every time, whatever “it” happens to be. If the path isn’t clear to the goal, he’ll make new one, usually better than any workflow or process that was in place before.
Jesper Seiersen
I found Brett to be a very competent and knowledgeable person, with a strong understanding of the needs found in a modern editorial newsroom – and the technical tools involved in the complex workflows of cutting-edge newspaper production. … His calm, friendly & constructive approach to any given challenge has made our customer-supplier relationship a very positive experience and I sincerely hope others will feel the same way about working with Brett on future jobs.
Dawn Mena
During our years working together at the Los Angeles Times and beyond, Brett Levy has always been the go-to guy for informed and enlightened advice and input on matters ranging from emerging technology to the state of journalism today to clearly conveying the hardships and successes of being a parent and a professional in today’s world.