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Newspapers.
Magazines. Books. Radio. Public relations. Mike
Blackwell's 20-year body of work has encompassed
all types of written and oral communication,
and that extensive experience would serve any
company well. Chances are Mike has already solved
any communication dilemmas you might encounter
in the future.
He has worked well on deadline during his entire
career, and has built a solid reputation as
a caring and talented newspaper writer, reporter
and editor. He has thrived in the magazine business,
first as a travel/business/lifestyle writer
for various magazines during his stint at Dockery
House Publishing in Dallas, then as editor of
the ProRodeo Sports News, the national publication
of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
He has authored several childrens' books (which
are included on this site), as well as The Terpsichoreans,
1898-1999, the history of the famous Dallas
social club. And he has excelled in the world
of radio, an area in which he has won accolades
for his play-by-play work in the sports of college
and high school football, basketball and baseball.
Mike was also sports director for KOXE-KBWD
radio station in Texas for seven years. Mike
also spent a great deal of his time at Howard
Payne University working in a public relations
capacity, honing a talent that he first learned
from his dad, a man who's in his mid-60s and
is still looking for his first stranger.
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My
newspaper career began in the press boxes
of West Texas football stadiums, where my
dad and his sportswriter friend, a smart-aleck
named Art Lawler, would hold court every
fall Friday night. Dad helped Art keep stats.
Art wrote stories and cussed when something
didn’t work, which was the case every
Friday night.
I carried things up the old unstable, wooden
steps of these press boxes (in complete
violation of child labor laws), marveled
at dad and Art’s eating prowess during
the pre- and post-game meals and slept in
the back seat on the way home.
From that beginning I covered Little League
baseball games, then edited my junior high
and high school newspapers. In college I
wrote columns and sports stories for The
Daily Texan, the student newspaper at The
University of Texas. I joined the sports
staff of the Austin American-Statesman after
leaving school, covering UT football, basketball
and baseball.
Since then I have worked everywhere and
covered everything. I’ve covered murder
trials and wrecks and funerals, sexual abuse
and the President of the United States.
I’ve been everything from an agate
clerk to a publisher (side note: agate clerk
was much more fun).
In sports, I’ve covered tennis, golf,
baseball, football, basketball, soccer,
swimming, baseball, track, volleyball, softball,
baseball, hockey, gymnastics, weightlifting
and baseball.
I wish I had covered more baseball.
Everything you can do at a newspaper, including
throwing them, I’ve done. Check out
my resume and writing samples, call my references
and give me a call. I’ll write columns
and features for you regularly or periodically.
I think you’ll be happy with my work. |
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None
of my previous experiences could have prepared
me for standing just behind the chutes at
Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo watching
a young bullrider settle down ever-so-gently
onto the back of a one-ton bull.
I’ve truly fallen in love with the
stories of rodeo - the story of calf roper
Brent Lewis and his wife, Cami, who share
the heartbreak and triumph of their daughter,
Sierra, who was born with spinal muscular
atrophy. The story of Josh O’Byrne,
a bullrider approaching 40 with plates and
screws in his face. The story of Scott Johnston,
the Australian bucking horse specialist
who chased his dream to America with his
wife and four kids. Last year he earned
more than $200,000. Only six short years
ago, he and his family lived briefly in
their van, refusing to let their dream die.
If your magazine needs a feature or news
story about rodeo in general, or a cowboy
in particular, I’d love to write it
for you.
In addition to my current work as editor
of the ProRodeo Sports News, I have written
dozens of non-rodeo related magazine pieces
on topics from travel to cooking to pet
care.
Give me a call.
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I
worked for seven and a half years at Howard
Payne University (Brownwood, Texas), and held
various titles, all of which sound more important
than they actually were:
• Associate athletic director (I handled
budget concerns, directed half-time shows and
made sure the officials showed up)
• Sports information director (I took orders
from everyone, then did what I wanted, producing
media guides, recruiting brochures and press
releases)
• Golf coach (I made sure the players made
their tee-times. And though I could barely break
100 myself, I did successfully recruit the only
All-America golfer in HPU history: Tim Pavlas)
• Communications director, Texas Intercollegiate
Athletic Association/American Southwest Conference
(Coordinated media coverage for all schools
in the league)
Let me help you with your media guides, recruiting
brochures or any other athletic-related publication
project.
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My
time as book/magazine editor at Dockery
House Publishing was highly rewarding,
despite the God-awful traffic of North
Dallas.
While working for and with Rod Dockery,
a man I greatly admire despite his Texas
A&M background, I authored The Terpsichoreans,
1898-1998 a history of the famous Dallas
social club.
I also wrote countless magazine pieces,
and helped with the writing and editing
of dozens of corporate books and publications.
I enjoyed working with Caleb Pirtle, and
enjoyed talking to him even more, on subjects
ranging from politics to the proper grip
of a curve ball. Our curve ball discussions
lasted much longer.
Call Caleb, ask him if he thinks I’m
a decent human being, and if his lies
convince you, call me and I’ll write,
edit, proofread and/or consult for your
publishing company.
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Need
a witty master of ceremonies for your banquet?
I’ve done that, so call me.
I hosted countless banquets and half-time
presentations, and I’ve even been allowed
to speak to classes of college students
about journalism, public relations, radio
works, ect. (egads!).
At last count, I’ve also written 263,407
press releases and played a significant
role in more than 200 important “schmooze
lunches.”
Roll the dice and call me. I need the work
and I won’t embarrass you. Probably. |
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