1. MARK HENDERSON
534 Birchwood Drive | Monroe, LA 71203 | 318-348-9570 | mhenderson@thenewsstar.com
SUMMARY
Award-winning journalist and respected manager with deep knowledge of the community, proficient with
company software, strong wordsmith and story coach, excellent time manager with proven loyalty, eager
to learn and adapt new skills in an evolving industry.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
36 years as a journalist at The News-Star, Monroe, LA
2012-Present, Local Content Editor
 Assigns stories and coaches reporters in fact gathering and writing. Led the team and worked
with other Gannett Louisiana newsrooms in developing the Best of Gannett-winning series on the
Affordable Care Act in 2013.
 Maintains the newsroom’s enterprise schedule and long-term planning calendar with a focus on
watchdog journalism.
 Supervised development of two series in 2014, including a four-part series on the Vietnam
experience for Memorial Day and a three-part series on the Ouachita River in July.
 Helped in Lafayette as the newspaper launched its Butterfly initiative.
 Writes editorials as needed.
 Proficient in Site Catalyst, Presto, NewsGate, Kronos and Notchbuilder; working knowledge of
Twitter, Facebook, Tweet Deck, Twitonomy and SuccessFactors; learning Pinterest.
 Have assumed responsibilities for newsroom supply acquisition, library maintenance and
microfilm management, payroll of news reporting staff and newsroom contest preparation.
2008-2012, Team Leader
 In this role, I performed many of the above-mentioned responsibilities, sharing city desk
management with a colleague.
 Primary planner of election night operations.
2004-2008, News Editor
 Supervised the copy desk, designing the front page, writing headlines, reading proofs, selecting
wire and editing copy for style and length. Managed a staff of seven.
 Developed competencies in QuarkXpress and JazBox.
Prior to 2004
 Served in many capacities, including features editor, state editor, business editor and assistant
news editor. As business editor, I was a writing editor. Worked as a loaner at USA Today in the
early 1980s.

2. MARK HENDERSON 318-348-9570 PAGE 2
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
1979-1984, part-time adjunct instructor of journalism at University of Louisiana at Monroe (then Northeast
Louisiana University), teaching copy editing, newspaper design, feature writing and editorial writing.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia.
Attended Mid-Career Copy Editor Institute, University of North Carolina.
AWARDS and HONORS
Internal awards
 Editor of project that won the Best of Gannett for Public Service, 2013; a six-part series on the
inauguration of the Affordable Care Act.
 Twice named manager of the quarter at The News-Star.
Select other awards
 First place, editorial writing, 2008 Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Managing Editors
 First place, headline writing, 2005 Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Managing Editors
 First place, feature writing, 2003 Louisiana Press Association
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
 Served many years as vice president of the Louisiana Purchase Zoological Society, assisting as
a docent, planner and assistant in a Boy Scouts Explorer Post
 Served as vice president of Impresario’s Choice until organization shut down. The organization
booked touring Broadway musical productions into Monroe.
 Twenty-year volunteer with KEDM, Monroe’s NPR-affiliated public radio station. Produce an hour
show of Broadway music, an hour of classical music. Assist with fund drives.
 Assisted at Red Cross emergency shelters, helping those displaced by hurricanes.
 Currently serving on committees overseeing company’s Make a Difference Day event; Gannett
Foundation; United Way campaign. Participated at recent Ouachita 101 event for newcomers to
the area representing The News-Star and encouraging subscriptions.