Profiles in Success  Submit a Profile In-depth looks at life after J-School. Class Notes  Submit a Class Note Shorter updates and recent alumni photos. Sort by Decade Sort by Name/Emphasis Show All 2000-Present 1990-1999 1980-1989 1970-1979 1960-1969 1950-1959 1940-1949 1930-1939 1920-1929 Show All: List by Last Name Graduate Degree Magazine Newspaper Photojournalism Radio-Television Strategic Communication Sort by Decade More Alumni Resources 2000-Present 1990-1999 1980-1989 1970-1979 1960-1969 1950-1959 1940-1949 1930-1939 1920-1929 @mizzou For All We Call Mizzou Mizzou Alumni Association MizzouNet

Judy Palmer, MA '80

What do you do?
I own an advertising sales representative firm with a wonderful president (me) and a wonderful employee (me). I have two association magazines as clients, and my day-to-day activities include ordinary business operations, phone and in-person ad sales, email follow up, writing marketing pieces, working with editors on article ideas, consulting with advertisers on advertising strategy and reviewing ad materials for computer-to-plate compatibility.

How did you get your job?
When I left Missouri in August 1980, I relocated to Washington, D.C., to complete my master's project in magazine publishing. My master's adviser equipped me with the names of two association magazine editors. Both agreed to "introductory" interviews, and after meeting me, both passed along the names of several additional association editing contacts. One of those contacts told me about an educational association looking for a managing editor and the rest is history.

Best professional lesson learned at the J-School?
Writers must not depend on editors to correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. Also, checking back with sources is an excellent practice in the real world, too.

What would be your best advice to current students?
Remember to polish your people skills and learn about interoffice politics. Don't be too proud to take a job that pays less than you want and don't get hung up on titles. On the other hand, don't work for a company that you can't respect or a cause you can't support and don't settle for a boss who doesn't support you. And try not to boast too much about the fact that you went to the best J-School in the world!

What is one thing you wish you had done?
I wish I had paid my dues in newspaper reporting. My only newspaper experience was at the Missourian, although as copy desk editor of the Sunday paper, I certainly learned a lot. I recommend a year at a newspaper to hone reporting skills and learn to handle deadline pressure.