Melissa (MJ) Henderson



Writer, editor, journalist and researcher with a BA in linguistics, an MFA in creative writing and a background in marketing, wellness and high tech brings 15+ years of professional experience across North America in language arts and communication. Also offered: transcription; translation (French/English); research; social media and website curation.

Qualifications

The basics: journalist | writer | editor | copywriter | copy editor | researcher | proofreader | brand mgr

Languages, etc.: Native English, spoken/written French, café Spanish | Dual citizen Canada/US. Eligible for UK work visa | Basic html-type coding—just enough to keep things interesting.

Publications

  • Los Angeles Times.
  • Sports Illustrated's The Cauldron.
  • Brand X Daily.
  • SaltedScarletry.com.
  • ConstantChatter.com.
  • SoundSpike.com.
  • Billabout.com.
  • up! Magazine.

    • Work History

    Journalist (reporter, writer, editor), Los Angeles Times, SI, Soundspike, Brand X et al.
    2005 — present

    Sections: A&E, travel, food, tech, health, wellness, sports, beauty & feature profiles. Duties: writing, editing, research, social media, web tech & PR. Publications include: Los Angeles Times; L.A. alt-weekly, Brand X; Westjet's in-flight magazine, "up!"; Sports Illustrated's The Cauldron; Soundspike.com, GreaterLongBeach.com, Billabout.com & ConstantChatter.com.

    Writer, Editor, Social Media/Brand Mgr (corp/tech), Freelance
    2005 — present

    Write/edit/brand copy for websites, employee/tech manuals, RFPs and marketing material, working with top Montreal ad agencies (bMod, Image Créative, JSAI) and translating (FrenchEnglish) where needed. Also: social media, PR, live blogging. Clients: DAVIDsTea (employee manual); Pfizer (Strive health articles); Groupe GVM (RFP); College Battle (social media, PR, branding, live blogging); Billabout (social media, copy edit, blog); John Abbott College Foundation (web copy, donor letters, internal reports); New Roots Herbal (PR; pamphlets); DaVita (diet/diabetes-targeted copy); Solgenia (tech copy); Microsoft (kb); emFast and iPerceptions (tech manuals).

    Editor & Proofreader, Scribendi Editing and Proofreading
    March 2013 — January 2015

    Remotely edited and proofed documents for wide range of clients (corporate, academic, creative, ESL, government) using several style guides (Chicago, Turabian, APA, MLA, AP, Harvard, Oxford) in a deadline-driven, detail-oriented environment. Member: Top Editor Team.

    Editorial Assistant, Los Angeles Times
    2009 — 2010

    Newsroom minion.

    Investigator minion, Joe Garshae Private Investigations
    1997 — 2001

    Far less lockpicking than had expected hoped.

    Education

    BA in Linguistics & French
    University of California, Los Angeles, 2009

    MFA in Creative Writing
    University of California, Riverside/Palm Desert, 2016