SKF NOTE: The four pages below describe my duties as Modern Drummer‘s Managing Editor. My dim recollection is that I wrote this circa 1983. Had I written this job description in 1980, when I was first hired as MD Managing Editor, it would be different. Several aspects of the job came about over time as MD grew to a monthly magazine from nine issues a year.
Why did I type out this detailed job description? I can only guess. As I said, I have only the slightest memory of this document. But in 1983, the MD employees primarily responsible for putting each issue of MD were the Features Editor, Art Director, Sales Director, Publisher, and the Managing Editor.
MD‘s support staff, and our freelance writers and photographers were also essential to producing the magazines. But the core production team was MD‘s Publisher, Features Editor, Art Director, Sales Director, and the Managing Editor.
Other than Publisher Ron Spagnardi, I had been on MD‘s staff longer than the Features Editor and the two Directors. When I learned the Publisher was paying me less than the others I was hurt, a bit angry, and puzzled.
I wanted to ask Ron why he was paying me less.
Before doing so I wanted to build my case, to have my full job description at the ready.
Also, I wanted to know what percentage of MD feature interviews and stories I’d written as Managing Editor. I was surprised to discover, between 1980 and 1983, I’d written 48-percent of MD‘s features.
Spagnardi told me he was paying the others more than me because they had college degrees and I didn’t.
My response was, “So what? In addition to my Managing Editor duties I’ve written almost half MD‘s features. I’m doing the work.”
In the end I was given a $2,000 raise. My pay went to $14,000 per year from $12,000, and I began thinking about working elsewhere.
I should clarify some points so what I wrote in 1983 will make more sense.
First, I was writing about publishing a magazine pre-computers and before the digital age and the internet. Modern Drummer was built with typewriters, land lines, audio-cassettes, literal cut-and-paste magazine layouts, and non-digital photography.
The Managing Editor duties described here are in chronological order. That is, MD‘s editors outlined issues at Progress Meetings, followed by several acts until each magazine was published.
Features Editor Rick Mattingly and I did quite a bit of “off the clock” work. After hours phone calls, homework, and interviews. We both loved what we were doing. I viewed the after hours work as an opportunity, and also as part of the gig, although the after hours work was not part of the gig.
MD might have been quite different if we insisted on limiting our work the magazine’s official 40-hour per week schedule.
Finally, the knowledge Rick and I brought to MD about drummers and drumming was not insignificant. I’m sure that’s why I mentioned it in this job description.
Scott K Fish 
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