Matthew N. Godbey

Summary

Educated media professional with twenty years of experience in the journalism and publishing industries.
Currently a Project Editor and Ghostwriter for Advantage Media Group and Forbes Books. Former weekly columnist at South Carolina’s largest daily newspaper, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Post and Courier, and Developmental Editor at CreateSpace, an Amazon.com self-publishing subsidiary.

Core Competencies

Professional Experience

Advantage Media Group/Forbes Books, Charleston, SC

Project Editor and Ghostwriter, 2015–Present

Work with a wide variety of clients and subjects to conceive, write, and edit books in nonfiction literary genres, specifying in self-improvement and motivational, business/entrepreneurship, and biography/memoir.

Elite Editing, New York, NY

Editor, 2015–2017

Consult with authors of fiction, nonfiction, academic, and business material through developmental, line, and copy edit procedures.

CreateSpace, North Charleston, SC

Editor, 2011–2015

Guided authors through developmental and copy edits for books of all genres and categorical possibilities.

Counsel for the editorial process included Structure, Plot Flow, Dialogue, Characterization, Grammar, Tone and Style, and Formatting.

Constructed internal improvements alongside Vendor Management and the editorial and design departments. Aided the renovation of the company’s QC process, which has enabled better communication and understanding between managers, designers, reviewers, and editors in more accurately representing each author’s work and creative vision.

The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC

Writer, 2006–2019

Collect and research topics, interview subjects, and write a weekly arts and culture column for the paper’s weekly entertainment insert, Charleston Scene, and its digital editions.

Elite Daily

Reporter, 2015

Contributing reporter for the Millennial-aligned content aggregator, working on stories for the blog’s “News” and “Life” sections.

Remilon

Copywriter, 2015

Provided content for Remilon’s family of websites, including Study.com and Education-Portal.com.

ColloCue Magazine

Reporter, 2007–2008

Consulted as an economics and politics writer for the former Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism’s student-run magazine.

Charleston Magazine, Charleston, SC

Editorial Intern, 2006

Proofread all content, wrote and researched news reports, conducted interviews, created press releases, developed front cover content and layout, performed administration duties, and produced full-length articles on a variety of lifestyle and culture topics.
With this opportunity, I developed my understanding of the editorial process in a professional setting and transformed my ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a creative, for-profit environment.

Education

BA: Communications and Media Studies with a specification in Print Media, College of Charleston, 2002–2005
Honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Extra-Curricular: Staff writer for the College of Charleston’s student-run newspaper, the George Street Observer
Faulkner State Community College, 1999–2001 (Deemed an accelerated learner, I attended FSCC as a dual-enrolled high school and college student from ages 16 to 18.)

Skills

Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, as well as Apple and Windows platforms. Experienced with Quark, InDesign, web-based applications, CMS programs and services like WordPress and Squarespace, Gimp, HTML, CSS, C++, FTP, and SEO content creation and practices. Well versed in The Chicago Manual of Style, MLA, AMA, APA, and AP style guides.
Self-driven contributor; research-devoted; detail-fixated; off-centered thinker; perceptive; a rapid learner who strives tirelessly to be proud of all completed work.
Strong communication and client relations skills.
Sturdy research and grammar knowledge.