NEW! Contribute to the Sunoasis 2003 blog. Details are at the bottom.

T A B L E  O F  C O N T E N T S

1. [Editor Notes]
2. [Resources]
3. [The Digital Writer]
4. [Career Advice]
5. [At C/Oasis]
6. [My Virtual Space]
7. [Markets]
8. [Community]
9. [Acknowledgments]

E D I T O R  N O T E S

Welcome to the 74th issue of this publication! And it's only the beginning since Sunoasis is embedded in the infinite resourcefulness of the Net. Plus, over the years we've developed loyalty to the beast that wasn't there in 1996.

It's important for me to know that there are many subscribers who've been here from the first full-year in 1997. How much has passed through! Thanks for your continued support.

Writers and editors are the most resourceful of people. This is always brought home to me as I do research for each issue. The more I think I know, the quicker I run into people who know more than I do.

I started with one premise: Everything in the writing life could be improved through the intelligent use of the Net. It's a long way from being perfect but it has all the earmarks of a new epoch in communications.

Enjoy this month's issue!

J o u r n a l i s m   i n   I r a q 

The month of April was a compelling one for writers and journalists because of the war in Iraq. It proved to be cruel to a few who lost their lives. I could do without the rah-rah commentators but some of the reporting from the field has been excellent. There are aspects of the coverage that raises questions.

The war saw the Net used in many significant ways. For one, because of the great access of world press on the Net, a curious person could get a synthesized view hard to obtain in the United States. One of the nagging problems for the press in America is how obedient it is to public opinion. The press acts like a politician who reads the opinion polls and then shapes himself accordingly. The media in America does not cower to government but they do heed the public that pay the bills. The Net is a fantastic medium to break the spell and get an authentic idea of what is going on. And that is because of the diversity of opinion available on the Net. That dynamic is one that will be with us for a long time.

There were the bloggers, one of whom was writing from Baghdad. And speculation has been raised about him. He's become something of an urban legend.

"So was this journalism?" asked NBC News correspondent Ashleigh Banfield.

One problem is when the journalist gets so caught up in the event that he ignores the facts. Or worse, he lets authority provide the facts.

It goes to a flaw in the system where the bottom-line is supreme. It also is connected to the Vietnam era when the military, among others, blamed the press for the debacle. They've never forgiven the press for criticizing the war. But then, the media turned against the war precisely when it saw the general public turn against it.

And in both Desert Storm and the war in Iraq, the military has successfully won over public opinion, making the fact-finders look like a PR-firm hired by the Pentagon.

The journalist, ideally, shouldn't be for or against anything. She should gather the facts and arrange them as rationally as possible. Truth should win out over power.

I r a q  L i n k s

The antidote for poor reporting is to go to primary documents and do the research yourself. These links lead to detailed analysis of different facets of Middle-Eastern policy.

www.lib.ecu.edu/govdoc/iraq.html
http://lii.org/warandpeace
NewsLab Links for Journalists: Internet
Resources for Covering Iraq Jon Lee Anderson report in New Yorker

I did get a chance to attend a lecture by Bob Woodward, the famed Watergate journalist. Woodward was something of a hero to young journalists in the 70's. He can be fairly humorous on a stage. He described how he pieced together contents of a top-secret intelligence briefing given to President Bush early in 2001. That briefing put the threat of Bin Laden number one on the list of security risks. Woodward said he figured this out simply by talking to people, reading what was available in the public record, and patching together a story that was credible. In other words, simple and effective investigative reporting.

President Bush, by the way, ignored the warning.

When he interviewed the President for a book Woodward was writing, the President showed him a display that he, apparently, had made. It was a sheet of paper with the pictures of higher-ups in Al-Qaeda. And when one was killed or captured, the President would put a red cross through it. The President, Woodward mentioned, had gotten a false report on one member and so had tried to erase the red mark across the man's face.

When asked about "Deep Throat," Woodward said he would honor the wishes of the man (and he said it was one man) because the man had deceived so many people, including his family. However, here is a clue perhaps.

Another interesting aside to the war in Iraq: Both words and images can lie. Are the cheering crowds planted? Is that Hussein right now or five months ago or, perhaps, a computer creation? War and battle can be captured by cameras but it must be told by honest people using honest words.

T e c h n i c a l  R e s o u r c e s 

A prescient quote from the featured book last month, Developing Online Content, summarizes our own view: "You need to understand the potential of technology, not in-depth technical know-how."

Columbia University Press has published its guide to electronic publishing in both print and online formats. It covers a complete range of subjects from XML and multimedia publishing, to archiving and digital rights management.

Here's the latest developments in e-paper and electronic ink.

The feedback we've gotten is superb. We're proud of the quality of people who have subscribed to Sunoasis 2003. So, please continue!

R E S O U R C E S

C r a f t :
-----------
J-Lab is an incubator for innovative news experiments that use new technologies to help people actively engage in critical public issues.

Dan Gillmor is going to write a book with your help. The book will explore the intersection of technology and journalism. The working title is "Making the News."

The art and craft of editorial writing

The beginning of writing is to make one other person to understand one distinct piece of information.

And the end of writing is wisdom bled out of the experience and knowledge of a particular time. Beyond that, as they say, is silence.

The Power of Words

News Thinking by Bob Baker

Writing for Radio

The Writer's Almanac from Garrison Keillor and Minnesota Public Radio

The Slot: A spot for copy editors
---------------------------
O r g a n i z a t i o n s :
---------------------------
Religion Newswriters Association

Council of Literary Magazines and Presses

Magazine Publishers of America

Society of National Association Publications
---------------
F i c t i o n :
---------------
Novel Tales caters to office-bound readers who don’t wish to commit to the time necessary for a complete novel.

About Children's Books Online: the Rosetta Project, Inc. The Rosetta Project's collections currently contain about 2,000 antique children's books which were published in the 19th and early 20th century.

The Complete Review has a lot of reviews!
-----------------------
e p u b l i s h i n g :
-----------------------
This story is several months old but very telling. It's about the "rebirth of electronic publishing." Again, e-publishing is going to be compared to print publishing over and over again but they are separate animals at this stage of things. The key is this: Can writers, editors, and others involved in the creation of content do better publications online than in print, given some of the advantages of the Net? Is there any advantage to the speed of delivery of written material? Is there any advantage to the inclusion of links? Is there any advantage to the collective expansion of resources? I am one of many who have positive feelings about it.

WiseEye provides headlines in 300 online services. I've used it on several occasions, find it very promising but it's still a bit uneven.

Newsblotter.com is a new worldwide Internet community providing fast breaking news stories and exclusive investigative journalism.

BookCrazy.Net provides free, in depth book reviews, author interviews, and audio book readings 24 hours a day.

T H E  D I G I T A L  W R I T E R

The Digital Writer had the habit of scrawling his assumptions on a piece of paper and tacking it on a wall. Or, sending the list to his favorite woman who lived thousands of miles away. "You must have this," he said. "It represents the culmination of years of thought.

Click for full column!

C A R E E R  A D V I C E

Sunoasis Jobs has been asked on several occasions if there are any professional training programs for those interested in a book publishing career. Here are a few:

NYU Center for Publishing
Pace University
Chicago Book Clinic Seminars
Emerson College
Stanford Publishing Courses
University of Denver: Publishing Institute
University of Virginia: Publishing and Communications Program

The art of research is one non-writing skill a writer needs to have.

A useful book I've had around for awhile is The Guide to Freelance Rates and Standard Practice, put out by the National Writers Union. Whatever one may think of the NWU, this is an excellent guide of how to structure fees be prudent when dealing with publishers.

I keep reminding people that Sunoasis Jobs is filled with a great deal more resource than it first appears. On every regional page there is a link to an association or group that hosts free writing, journalism ads. Take advantage of the fact!

Ask a question about your career!

A T    C/ O A S I S

We are continually amazed by the talent that flows through C/Oasis. The Poetry Editor and I agree that we turn away too much good material. This is a privileged space. But, finally, it comes down to what the writer is bringing to the individual piece. What is the artistic value that shimmies up from the words on the page?

NY Dreams by Martin Green is a vignette, a slice of life.

The artist and poet, Cheryl Hicks offers up two playful songs from her varietal repertoire.

The Poetry Editor has brought back tales from the Festival!

There's always an assortment of surprises so look around and enjoy yourself.

M Y   V I R T U A L   S P A C E 

"You know, slick, there's one representative for every 400,000 people. And many of those people understand that their single vote is nothing compared to the struggle between interests." And he didn't know the answer but was curious why it didn't result in more decisive action. Perhaps they felt that in moving against wealth they were moving against their own self-interest which would be tantamount to insanity. "No, slick, the process of alienation is complete." Read on

M A R K E T S  A N D  L E A D S
Communications Specialist 
*Salary Information $46,309-$55,571     
*Department: Communications/Marketing 
*Location: Flint, MI
Description of Position: 
Manages the internal communication vehicles, assigns 
articles to staff members, determines appropriate means of 
available publications- memos, weekly newsletter, Intranet 
site, e-mail or interoffice mail to ensure accurate, timely, 
educational communications to all staff.
For full ad click here!

* * * * * * * *
IPRO, New York State's leading healthcare quality improvement 
organization, seeks an individual to write, edit, proofread 
and copy edit documents for healthcare providers/consumers. 
Plans/prepares stories for internal/external publications.  
Produce & track print projects i.e. brochures, reports, 
newsletters, etc. Interact w/external vendors i.e. designers, 
printers, mail houses, photographers, etc. 

Bachelor’s Degree in English, Journalism, Communications or 
related field w/min five years experience in health care.  
Superior writing, editing and verbal communication skills.  
Microsoft Word applications required. 
Please submit resume to:

IPRO, Attn: Human Resources
1979 Marcus Avenue
Lake Success, NY 11042
Phone: 800-852-3685 x425
Fax: 516-328-1551
Email: mmalone@ipro.org
www.ipro.org    EOE M/F/D/V
* * * * * * * *

Language Arts Curriculum Specialists 
K12 seeks a Content Specialist in English to assist in 
the development of literature and language skills curricula 
for grades 6-12. 
The ideal candidate will have: 
·   A Master's or Ph.D. in his or her area of specialty, 
ideally in literature or writing 
·   5 or more years of experience working on middle and 
high school curriculum for English 
·   Teaching experience 
·   Knowledge of standardized assessments 
·   Excellent writing and editing skills  
·   The ability to work collaboratively and communicate 
effectively with a variety of talented individuals from 
engineering, design, media, teaching, and curriculum 
·   The ability to manage complex projects working in a 
production environment with deadlines 
·   Prior work in a technology-enhanced/internet/new media 
environment 
·   Enthusiasm for and ability to work independently in 
a fast-paced environment  
·   Experience in developing content for interactive 
delivery (web-based or CD-ROM) a big plus though not 
absolutely essential 

Relocation to McLean, Virginia desirable but not essential. 
Telecommuting and trips to office possible.  Complete 
benefits package.  Stock options and competitive salary, 
commensurate with background and experience.   Interested 
candidates should send us a cover letter and resume: 
fax to recruiting (703)556-3900; 
or e-mail to jobs@k12.com 
K12 is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. 

Job Links for new leads!

New Magazine Launches:

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
US YOUTH SOCCER MAGAZINE
WINDOWS XP ANSWERS
TIRADE
HOMELAND FIRST RESPONSE
MXB
FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR
AMERICAN ROAD MAGAZINE
ALLERGY & ASTHMA TODAY
INSIDE GYMNASTICS

If you have any suggestions about markets you want guidelines for, just drop a line

C O M M U N I T Y

WYOMING WRITERS, Inc., (WWI) will hold its 29th annual conference in Cody, Wyoming from June 6-8, 2003. The presenters and workshops provide writers and poets with learning opportunities and a chance to network with editors and other writers. Attendees can read their work in open mike sessions each evening and meet published Wyoming Writers, Inc. authors at the annual booksigning.

Shaw Guide for Writing Conferences in May.

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S

Over the past several months subscribers have asked if they can donate anything to keep the publication going. I've resisted going this route, but now that Amazon has set up its "Honor System," those interested can donate to the maintenance of Sunoasis 2003.

F Y I

Put an ad in Sunoasis 2003 and reach its 4,400 subscribers. Just $25 a month! Contact mailto:eide491@earthlink.net

Team of experienced professionals, which includes a Pulitzer Prize nominee and several published authors, will edit your fiction or non-fiction manuscript for today's tough market. Reputable firm. References. First-time writers our specialty. See us at http://www.a1editing.com

Take advantage of 20 years of professional Information 
Technology experience. Research/writing/proofreading 
assignments wanted: 
> articles, columns, white papers, presentations, and 
marketing literature for 
- Host connectivity  
- Legacy-web Integration  
- Enterprise Application Integration 
- eBusiness  
- eCommerce  
- Synergy of business & IT strategy 
- articles and columns about space exploration and 
utilization 
>Qualifications and samples at 
http://www.jeffkrukin.com
Contact: Jeff Krukin at 
jkrukin@bellsouth.net

Master speech writer and trainer: Make your speeches inspire and motivate your audience. With years of training and experience in speech writing and delivery, I can help you develop the perfect speech for any occasion. Coaching for delivery is also available. call 306-546-5717 or email jhillyer@devry.com

Sunoasis--You're amazing! A mere five hours after I sent in the text for my classified ad I got a call for a writing project, and within two days, the project was mine. Thanks so much for your invaluable services! Debbie Lerman, freelance writer
http://www.sunoasis.com/classif.html

E T C/ E T C/ E T C

Editor/Publisher: David Eide
C/Oasis
Sunoasis Jobs
E-mail
My Virtual Space

Sunoasis 2003 is fully protected by copyright. Sunoasis 2003 can be distributed in any way deemed intelligent by the reader as long as it is distributed in full for non-commercial uses. Reprint rights belong to the authors. Contact them if you wish to use their material. Unauthorized use of any material is strictly forbidden.

Subscribe: oasis-l-subscribe@topica.com

Unsubscribe: oasis-l-unsubscribe@topica.com

You can always reach me at eide491@earthlink.net Please do if you have any advice; anything you'd want to see put into Sunoasis 2003. If there is any problem with the delivery in your mailbox, let me know. I try to format it correctly but problems can arise.

Let's all meet again in May 2003!

David

Contribute to the Sunoasis Joblog! If you find a resourceful story on writing, employment, careers, etc. just fill out the box below and send away. The most resourceful will get posted.

Go to Joblog!

Go to March Sunoasis Blog!

Go to February Sunoasis Blog!

Go to January Sunoasis Blog!

Go to December Sunoasis Blog!

David

Back to top of page