As the manager of journalism and news at Twitter, 10,000 Words founder Mark Luckie is still working “where journalism and technology meet.” In his interview with Mediabistro, Luckie describes his new role at the colossal social media platform and how he is still working with journalists to make the most out of the digital space.

“There are a lot of things that journalism organizations want from Twitter, and I’m sort of like the inside man who’s working on behalf of journalists to say, ‘Hey this is what journalists need to be able to do their jobs on Twitter,’” he said.

And what are his favorite Twitter tips for journalists? “I love live chats. I love that journalists have taken on conducting live chats with readers with no sort of interference or handling by the company itself. I love taking hashtags and taking them to the next level, really ask questions via hashtags,” he said.

Read more in Hey, How’d You Become Twitter’s Manager of Journalism and News, Mark Luckie? [AvantGuild subscription required]

Find great social media jobs on our job board. For real-time openings and employment news, follow @MBJobPost.

Brandon Holley held editor positions at Time Out and GQ, helped launch Elle Girl and headed Yahoo! Shine before taking the helm at Lucky in 2011. And, she says, if you want to snag a top spot on a magazine masthead, you need to be a vocal and proactive voice for the brand.

“I think people make a mistake when they wanna climb the masthead, and they assume the editor-in-chief should pay attention to them. And, now that I’m on the other side of the desk, I love people who come to me,” Holley said in our Media Beat interview.

Holley explained that she succeeded at GQ by giving “steady input without being annoying” to editor-in-chief Art Cooper. “I wasn’t kissing ass, but I would write memos to him and say, ‘I think this section could use this,’ and ‘I think we should start a new section that’s this’… I’m a huge fan of memo writing.”

Part 2: Brandon Holley Calls Fashion Blogging ‘Most Exciting Thing to Happen in Publishing in Decades’
Part 3: Lucky’s Brandon Holley Talks Photoshop and Fashion

For writers looking to shift their careers, an editing position often seems like the next logical step. But, before you start eyeing that spot on the masthead, make sure you have these key magazine and newspaper editor skill sets.

No. 5: A gift for finding the “so what?” in a story

It’s great that you can spot comma splices and sentence fragments, but great editors can also pull out the important elements of a story so readers don’t end up feeling like they just squandered their last five or so minutes.

“One of the things I can do really well is I can see a story in my mind before it’s written. When you’re writing, it’s all about getting the ideas out. It’s more emotional,” said Kweli Wright, Juicy contributing editor. ”When you’re editing, you have to think like a writer but also think like a reader and make sure that the beginning, middle, conclusion and quotes make sense to make the story come alive.”

Read more in 5 Signs You’re Ready to Be an Editor. [subscription required]

– Andrea Hackett

Whether you are looking for a total career revamp or just to earn a few extra bucks on the side, there are a number of unique job opportunities for freelance journalists, including some that you may not think you’re qualified for. For example, social media jobs are a great fit for news hounds.

“Journalists have an even bigger opportunity to get into social media now, because there is always something new and more hands are always needed,” said Douglas Marshall, a journalist turned social media manager for Saks Fifth Avenue. “I know a lot of journalists who write freelance for larger retail company’s blogs, or they are hired on a consulting basis to be ‘experts.’ Journalists are currency in the social media world, probably more than they think they are.”

Find out how to get the job in Mediabistro’s latest AvantGuild article, Great Side Gigs for Journalists and Writers. [subscription required]

– Andrea Hackett

Find great social media jobs on our job board. For real-time openings and employment news, follow @MBJobPost.

When times are tough, even the most independent of freelancers may be lured by the steady paychecks and 401k of a full-time job. Before taking the plunge and accepting that 9-5, however, it is important to consider all of the potential changes, and even risks, that come with quitting the freelance life.

For example, does taking a full-time job mean giving up your side gigs? Possibly.

“Some employers will require that any contract work be approved first,” said HR exec Rose Reterstoff. “Even if this isn’t the case, the employee should look for contract or policy language such as ‘conflict of interest’ or ‘ethical behavior.’”

So, if you’ve made a living freelancing for Magazine X and are brought on as a staff writer for the competition, you’re going to need to look more closely at your arrangements with both. Check old and new contracts, non-compete agreements, non-disclosure agreements and employee handbooks. Then, tread carefully.

Get more tips in Mediabistro’s latest AvantGuild article, Back to the Cube: What to Do Before Ditching the Freelance Life. [subscription required]

– Andrea Hackett