Eric Minton

Writer | Editor 
Project Manager 

The Writer

We'll skip over the newspaper I published when I was 8 years old, had a circulation of four (my parents and two brothers), and lasted one issue. My professional journalism career began when I was 15 covering high school sports for the Bordentown (N.J.) Register-News. With that April 18, 1974, debut, I've had more than 1,200 assigned articles published by 104 newspapers, magazines, and websites. I've written copy for travel brochures and government publications, and produced two websites including Shakespeareances.com.
In addition to sportswriter, my writing career labels include music critic, travel writer, disability activist, and professional roller coaster rider. The spectrum of topics I've covered also includes the military, business management, health, and entertainment, and I'm a regular contributing writer for Professional Photographer magazine.
My work has earned a Folio Award, a Jessie H. Neal Award, and a National Easter Seal Society EDI Award.

The writer's top priority

Every time I take on a writing assignment, my focus remains on the article's audience, which comprises three entities.

    1. The people reading the published piece, which ranges from the general public to a particular shared-interest demographic. It's about providing content holding specific value to the targeted readership.
    2. The individuals I'm writing about, which requires being accurate with information and presenting quotes in their intended, contextual meanings. It's about fairness.
    3. The publication's editor, which means understanding exactly what the editor expects and meeting the assigned article length and deadline, keeping the editor informed of challenges to both. It's about repeat business.

Magazine spread of story with headline "DOn't Look Away" and photograph of South Vietnamese soldiers scurrying to unload supplies from a helicopter with its blades still running

Professional Photographer
March 2023
"Don't Look Away:
Recognizing the Work of Vietnam War
Combat Photographers 50 Years Later"
(Links open PDF)

Folio Award for Excellence in Journalism (Eddie Award) 2023
Single Article, Association / Nonprofit, Professional / Membership Association

Editor's Note
“Eric saw the opportunity to convey a historical perspective to you while commemorating the work that U.S. combat photographers did in the Vietnam War. His experience as a military spouse and senior advisor to the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration came together with his understanding of PPA and its members to bring an unforgettable story.
—Jane Gaboury, Director of Publications,
Professional Photographers of America

 

Magazine spread with a close up of two hands shaking, one that of a service member wearing battle camoflage uniform, the other a metalic prosthetic in a clear vinyl glove and a blue sleeve. Bakgtround is a line of military members in battle camoflage uniforms holding USA flags

Professional Photographer
March 2024
"Feeling the Love:
Jeremy Lock Sees Beauty in Everything

Subject's Post 

Eric took the time to get to know me! He really listened, transcribing my passions, purpose, and thoughts perfectly from multiple conversations. ... Eric cared, truly capturing the essence of who I am, and I am very appreciative of our common interest in our fellow human beings. This is by far my favorite interview I have ever done!
—Jeremy Lock, Professional Photographer
https://www.jeremytlock.com/post/feeling-the-love

Latest Published Work

(Links open PDFs)

Magazine spread "Savoring the Flow" with entire spread comprising image of blue-tinted women in gowns with their hands up
Professional Photographer
 May 2023

"Savoring the Flow: Mark Edward Harris' Long-Form Photography"

Magazine spread "The Heart of It" on the left page and a portrait of Nick Offerman awkwardly winking his right eye
Professional Photographer
January 2023

"The Heart of It: Beowulf Sheehan's Author Portraits Tell a Full Story"

Magazine spread, 'Yin & Yang: A Daring second act for Neil Kremer and Cory Johnson by Eric Minton' on left page, cartoon-like photo of a woman in pagjamas and robe looking into an opened refrigerator with a dog sitting by her side, the only light in the image coming from the opened refrigerator.
Professional Photographer
December 2022

"Yin & Yang: A Daring Second Act for Neil Kremer and Cory Johnson"

The Spectrum of Work

(Links open PDFs)

Cover of The Officer with a combat soldier standing against a wall amid dark shadows: "Combating Suicide"
The Officer
February-March 2010
"Combating Suicide" 

Cover of The Officer magazine with snap shots of three Vietnam War soldiers and a medic evac team carrying a wounded soldier to a helicopter in Iraq. "Legacy of Service."
The Officer
November 2008
"The True Trauma of TBI"

GAMES cover of a mens street race with famous bald heads superimposed on the runners.
Games
September 2001
"Skee-Ball"
"Diversion" cover of a seaside resort in Hawaii.
Diversion:
October 1999
"Sowing Seeds Between Sutures "

"Funworld" cover with looping yellow and blue roller coast (train on the center loop) against a tree-filled backdrop
Funworld
June 1999
"Tuning Up: Behind the Scenes at Cedar Point"

Psychology Today cover, with smiling woman, chin on crossed hands lying across a globe, and headlines "Feel Great! Take Charge Of Your WOrld: Conquer Stress, Fight Fear, Stop Pain."
Psychology Today
May/June 1999
"Thrills & Chills"

Off Duty cover with a couple holding wine glasses in a kitchen, a spread of vegetables on the counter in front of them, with headline "Getting Fit In Your Kitchen"
Off Duty
July -August1998
"Getting Fit In Your Kitchen"

NADA's Automotive Executive" cover with montage of graphics showing warning signs and a man leaning into his hand rubbing his furrowed brow, and headline "Stressed to Kill: Workplace Violence"
Automotive Executive
September 1995
"Stressed to Kill—Workplace Violence" 

Today's Pawnbroker coveer, with man sitting with a framed piece of art and sitting in front of sketches on the wall, with headline "a Picasso in the Pawnshop"
Today's Pawnbroker
Spring 1994
"Disaster Preparation"

Sky Magazine cover with an old-fashioned windmill on a prairie at sunrise or sunset creating an amber sky streaked with gold and brown clouds.
Delta Sky Magazine
June 1990
"The Boys and Girls of Wimbledon"

Dramatics cover with a bearded man showing costume design drawings to a woman inside the Guthrie Theatre costume shop.
Dramatics
September 1988
"Theatre in the Ruins"
A reduced image of the tabloid Newsday's Travel section front, with a rider on a horse on a beach by a like and mountains in the background, with the headline "A Ride on the WIlde Side: Horse-Trekking in Ireland" and the first three paragraphs of the story.
Newsday
July 19, 1987
"A Ride on the Wild Side"

Award-Winning Articles

(Links open PDFs)

Swimming Pool/Spa Age cover of a man looking closely at water chemical levels calculator.

Jesse H. Neal Award:
Best Subject-Related Series of Articles, 1999

"Is Our Water Safe?"
Swimming Pool/Spa Age, August, 1998

Hemispheres cover, a drawing of the backs of early 19th century father, mother, and boy looking at the Statue of Liberty in the distance

National Easter Seal Society
Equality, DIgnity, and Independence (EDI) Award for Print Journalism:
Consumer Magazine/Feature or Human Interest, 1995
"Implementing a Can-Do Attitude"
United Airlines Hemispheres, July, 1994

Industrial Management cover with portrait of G. Kemble Bennett in striped shirt and sport jacket, an exterior airplane cockpit in background. "G. Kemble Bennett: All Fired Up in Texas

American Society of Business Publication Editors
SIlver Award for Best Feature Writing and Reporting:
Business to Business, 2001

"G. Kemble Bennett"
Industrial Management, January-February 2000

Industrial Management cover with portrait of Jong-Yung Yun in shirt and tie looking off to to his right. "Jong-Yung Yun: Philosopher at Heart"
Magazine Association of Georgia GAMMA
Silver Award for Best Feature Writing or Reporting:
Business to Business, 2000

"Jong-Yong Yun"
Industrial Management, July-August 1999

Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metal Fabricator cover with gold leaf scrolling stairway railing. Headlines "Custom Castings; Opportunities With Pool Fencint; The Paradox of Design

Magazine Association of Georgia GAMMA
Silver Award for Best Feature Writing and Reporting:
Business to Business, 1997

"The Concern for Pool Safety"
Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metal Fabricator,
September-October 1997

Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metal Fabricator cover with curving stairwell featuring gold rail, gold leaf, black iron scroll and circles railing. Headlines "A Tribut to Castings" "Finding and Retaining Workers."

Magazine Association of Georgia GAMMA
Bronz Award for Best Feature Article:
Business, 1997

"Finding Good Workers"
Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metal Fabricator,
November-December 1996

   Caricature of Shakespeare in casual blue jacket and pants, leaning on a roller suitcase whie holding an iPad in his other hand. Favorites on Shakespeareances.com