JAMES M. TRAGESER


1302 McClelland St., San Marcos, CA 92069
760.522.0265 | jimtrageser@gmail.com
Summary of Qualifications Seasoned news editor, reporter and columnist, with management and supervisorial experience. Has worked on news, features and opinion desks of both daily and weekly newspapers, and is a longtime contributor to trade magazines in the medical field. Helped launch two major online initiatives at daily newspapers. Created and taught upper-division course on journalism for digital platforms at accredited four-year university.
Experience

SAI Systems Technologies
Project Manager

October 2018 - present

  • Oversee medical device manufacturer's production tracking, order fulfillment, and collections operations. Also maintain and update all corporate communications, from end user manuals to intellectual property protection.

SAN DIEGO IMPERIAL COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Senior District Executive

October 2012 - September 2018

  • Worked with volunteer leaders to reach annual goals in recruiting new members and fundraising.

NORTH COUNTY TIMES
Opinion pages coordinator / Books, Military, Science and Religion editor
May 2003 - September 2012

  • Supervised production of four weekly sections for midsize daily newspaper in San Diego County from 2008-2012; oversaw daily opinion section, including writing daily unsigned editorial and featured opinion column for Sunday edition. From 2006-2008 was staff music reporter and movies editor; served as assistant online editor from 2003-2006.
Online editor
March 1997 - November 1997

  • Supervised development of newspaper's initial website. Coordinated with editorial, art, advertising and marketing departments to prepare rollout of online product (debuted Sept. 1, 1997).
Opinion pages editor
June 1993 - March 1997

  • Oversaw operation of four-person opinion desk (including predecessor North County Blade-Citizen) – writing daily unsigned editorial, supervising selection of syndicated and local columns and cartoons, giving final approval on letters to editor. Worked as copy editor October 1992 to June 1993.

TURBULA.NET
Publisher, editor

August 2002 - April 2012

  • Conceived, launched and oversaw all aspects of award-winning literary and culture online 'zine.

FREELANCE WRITING
General purpose and technical

March 1988 - present

COMPUTOREDGE MAGAZINE
Contributing editor
January 1992 - October 1995, January 1997 - January 1998, June 2000 - June 2009

  • Wrote weekly Hot on the Web column for San Diego-based computer weekly from June 2000 through December 2008, and Online San Diego column from January 1992 to October 1995, and again from January 1997 to January 1998. Columns analyzed online issues and reviewed San Diego-based websites and (earlier) dial-up bulletin boards.

POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY
Adjunct instructor

January 2001 - June 2007

  • Created and taught upper-division course in English Department, "Electronic Journalism," at private four-year liberal arts university. Designed course for its first semester, preparing syllabus, class lessons, reading list and homework assignments.

RIVERSIDE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Theater critic (freelance)

September 1992 - August 1995, June 2000 - May 2003

  • Reviewed new plays at San Diego-area theaters (Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Repertory Theatre), and new productions at San Diego Opera for Riverside daily newspaper. Also interviewed actors and directors ahead of new productions.

AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE
Communications specialist

October 2002 - May 2003

  • Wrote and designed email newsletters for nonprofit exercise advocacy organization. Also wrote copy for website and print publications.

COMPUTER MUSEUM OF AMERICA
Acquisitions manager, curator

May 1992 - September 2002

  • Managed collection of first museum to document the Computer Revolution. Oversaw management of storage facilities and collection, and the acceptance of donations from 1992-1996 in part-time position. On contract basis, designed permanent exhibits at the downtown facility ("The Computer Comes Home: A History of Personal Computing") and award-winning temporary exhibits at the California Computer Exposition from 1996-2002.

INETCAM INC.
Technical writer

January 2001 - April 2002

  • Wrote and designed print and electronic user manuals at streaming-video software company. Also wrote and prepared inline Help files for company's sofware products.

MONETAONE INC.
Director of media relations
June 2000 - January 2001

  • Responsible for designing, coordinating and implementing media campaign for high-tech startup selling prepaid stored-value cash cards on mini-CD-ROM. Also assisted with designing marketing campaign and in-store promotions.

SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE /
SIGN ON SAN DIEGO

Principal content producer, news
December 1997 - June 2000

  • Implemented live news component on major metropolitan newspaper's website. Covered breaking local stories, as well as updated news, business, computer and science wire reports. Designed and created online voter guide.

COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
Columnist
May 1998 - June 2000

  • Wrote "Net Sitings," a nationally syndicated column about online issues.

SAN DIEGO EVENING TRIBUNE
Freelance arts writer
January 1988 - June 1990

  • Wrote entertainment features, interviewed national musical artists, and reviewed record albums and books for major metropolitan daily newspaper.

CHULA VISTA STAR-NEWS
Associate editor
March 1988 - August 1989

  • Responsible for editorial operation of National City edition of twice-weekly community newspaper in San Diego County. Began as Imperial Beach beat reporter, covering city hall, school boards, fire department and sheriff's station. Also reviewed local theater productions and wrote arts features.

A CRITIQUE OF AMERICA
Senior editor
June 1987 - January 1988

  • Responsible for story planning, story assignment, working with freelance reporters, editing copy, and working with designers on story placement each issue for 50,000-circulation national political magazine.
Education SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of arts in political science, 1986
Public service

SOCIETY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM - WESTERN REGION
Newsletter editor, secretary
2014 - present

  • Edit, design and produce quarterly newsletter for Catholic-Orthodox ecumenical lay society.

YOUTH COACH
Softball, basketball, flag football, baseball, arena soccer
1998 - 2020

  • Volunteer coach in the above sports for San Marcos Girls Softball, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego (Mitchell Branch), Palomar Family YMCA and Escondido National Little League.

AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION, CHAPTER 118
Chapter Secretary
June 2016 - May 2018

  • Took notes and prepared minutes for bimonthly executive board meetings of local nonprofit veterans advocacy organization.
Journalism Awards

First place, best review / criticism in a daily newspaper or website
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro Chapter, 2022

First place, best miscellaneous review in a daily newspaper or website
San Diego Press Club, 2021

First place, best entertainment reporting in a magazine
San Diego Press Club, 2021

First place, best health & medicine reporting in a magazine
San Diego Press Club, 2021

First place, best entertainment reporting in a magazine
San Diego Press Club, 2020

First place, best miscellaneous review in a daily newspaper or website
San Diego Press Club, 2017

First place, best health & medicine reporting in a magazine
San Diego Press Club, 2016

First place, best arts & entertainment reporting in a daily newspaper or website
San Diego Press Club, 2016

First place, best column in a daily newspaper
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro chapter, 2010

First place, best opinion column, large daily newspaper
Suburban Newspapers Association, 2009

First place, feature layout design, daily newspaper
San Diego Press Club, 2008

First place, feature page design, daily newspaper
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro chapter, 2007

First place, feature headline writing, daily newspaper
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro chapter, 2007

First place, headline writing, online
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro chapter, 2007

First place, column writing, daily newspaper
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro chapter, 2005

First Place, daily newspapers arts & entertainment reporting
San Diego Press Club, 2004

First place, daily newspaper review/criticism
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro chapter, 2004

First place, online design
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro Chapter, 2003

First place, performing arts review in a daily newspaper
San Diego Press Club, 2001

First place, best online criticism
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro chapter, 2001

First place, best online arts/entertainment story
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro chapter, 2001

First Place, best online interactive package
San Diego Press Club, 2000

First Place, commentary/editorial writing in a daily newspaper
San Diego Press Club, 2000

First place, best online criticism
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro chapter, 2000

First place, best integration of media
San Diego Press Club, 1999

First place, best online arts writing
Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Pro chapter, 1999

First Place, commentary/editorial writing in a daily newspaper
San Diego Press Club, 1997

First Place, best editorial/opinion section under 100,000 circulation
Greater Los Angeles Press Club, 1996

Other Awards Best of Show for Computer Museum of America exhibit
California Computer Exposition, 1997

Most Educational Exhibit for Computer Museum of America
California Computer Exposition, 1996