Welcome to the Topix Editor Spotlight, the first of a weekly column featuring some of the best and brightest user editors on Topix.

This week we would like to introduce you to the prolific Pragmatist, editor of several news pages on Topix, including the cities of Flower Mound, Texas and St. Francisville, Lousiana, as well as the state news pages for Texas and Louisiana.

She took some time to answer a few questions about her experience as a Topix editor, and to share her tips for crafting outstanding news pages.

Why did you want to come a Topix editor?
The news being posted by the roboblogger is not as current nor as focused as the news human editors can post.

How much time do you generally spend a day editing?
I spend anywhere from 1 to 3 hours a day reading online news and probably 30 minutes posting to Topix.com. I post anywhere from 10 to 40 articles per day for the 4 pages I edit.

Where else do you find articles, outside of Topix?
I read 8 online news sites every day PLUS whatever links those sites include in their articles of interest to me. It is these sources from which I pull articles to post on Topix.

What are some editing pitfalls you've learned to avoid?
I try to post the articles “of interest” first and then the “headline” articles so that the headline info appears at the top of the page for the day.

What is your prior editing and writing experience?
I have no prior editing experience, but I write business documents and am working on a novel.

What do you when you are not on Topix?
I’m a project manager for large financial networks.

What is your editing environment like? Do you post from work or home? Snacks, routine, etc?
I work from home, so it’s the same environment. I read the online news early in the morning (5:00 AM) and start posting then.

How else are you involved in your community?
Church, professional societies.

What other internet sites do you visit regularly?
CNN, Dallas Morning News, Star Telegram, Denton Record Chronicle, Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, among others

What advice would you give to other editors in making a great page?
Save your headline stories to post last so they appear at the top of your page. Search online newspapers in your surrounding area for news of interest to your community.

What question do you wish we'd asked you?
Would you like the ability to delete discussion topix or individual postings which violate the topix.net user agreement?

Thanks, Pragmatist, and keep up the excellent work! Be sure to check out her work on the following pages:

• Flower Mound, TX
• St. Francisville, LA
• Texas
• Louisiana