Pepperdine graduate James Riswick has been fortunate enough to incorporate his two passions – writing and cars – into one fantastic job. As an automotive editor for Edmunds.com he gets to travel to car shows drives and reviews all types of cars makes online video blogs and writes news for the website.
Riswick graduated from Pepperdine in 2005 with a degree in Journalism. During his four years as a student at Pepperdine Riswick appeared in all 80 editions of the Graphic student newspaper a feat unmatched in Graphic history.
During his freshman and sophomore years he served as the news editor for the Graphic and during his junior and senior years he served the Graphic editor in chief. While serving as editor in chief Riswick made numerous improvements and redesigned the format of the newspaper.
“I knew from the beginning I wanted to work for a car magazine said Riswick, adding that it was this dream job that gave him the desire to become a journalist.
Riswick has been smitten with cars since he was just a young boy. When I was little I had hundreds of little cars I would play with I was just fascinated said Riswick. On my 15th birthday I went straight the DMV to get my license.”
Riswick knew that working for an automotive magazine was ideal because it would be the best way to include his writing skills and his love for cars.
Riswick has been writing since he was old enough to work but his writing really took off in high school while he worked on his school newspaper. He was well prepared to write for the Graphic when he was a freshman at Pepperdine. “I knew writing was what I wanted to do since I was young stated Riswick.
Working as news editor for the Graphic for two years and then becoming the editor in chief for his last two years at Pepperdine gave him all the experience he needed coming out of college. It prepared him well to work for Edmunds.com as an automotive editor, which he has been doing since 2007.
Riswick credits the Graphic for providing him with the tools he uses now in his career. Writing for the Graphic is just a micro version of what I am doing now stated Riswick. It was a perfect foundation for the job I have now.”
As an automotive editor for Edmunds.com which is based in L.A. Riswick works in an open newsroom with a team of editors. As a part of his job he gets to test drive cars and write reviews about them.
In the newsroom there is a list of cars — some have yet to be released to the public some are brand new cars that have just been released and some are a little older. In order to test the vehicles the automotive editors are allowed to take to cars out for the weekend and drive them around. This is the editor’s way of making a good judgment of the different aspects of the cars they have to write reports about.
On his test drives Riswick will look for things such as how the car drives different gadgets and features on the car the gas mileage among many other factors. For example he recently drove the 2011 Ford Mustang for a weekend and absolutely enjoyed it with no complaints.
In addition to writing an article Riswick also creates a video blog about the car.
Edmunds.com automotive editors are often the first to drive brand new vehicles. The editors also get to travel to different cities and countries for car shows where they get to see the new models and write about them on the website.
“I have been to Detroit to check out the new Chrysler 200 and I have even been to Korea to check out the cars Riswick said. After attending these car shows Riswick will immediately write an article about the car at the car show. Most of the time, this is the first time the world is hearing about the new vehicle.
Riswick’s video blogs keep over-anxious readers pleased. People get so attached to these cars he stated.
Edmunds.com automotive editors have a pretty good time doing their jobs. However, with the emergence of technology and online publications, print publications continued to take more hits and many believe that soon print will be gone altogether.
There is no doubt that print is suffering stated Riswick. People are slowly realizing that online publications are taking over. With Ipads and other technologies (the old) things are going to be replaced.”
Riswick seemed disappointed that print was in the decline. “There is just something much more elegant about stories in a magazine.”
Riswick knows how lucky he is to love his work. “This is the job I have always wanted Riswick stated. The internet age came at an opportune time for me with the internet booming the way it is.”
Edmunds.com come is thriving as well as one of the top automotive websites around.
Edmunds.com is owned by Edmunds Inc. and also owns Inside Line and Autoobserver.com.
Technology has allowed people to interact with the automotive editors in countless ways. “With the way the internet is now we are able to be the main website. With the use of blogs publications and video blogs we are able to connect with our readers at all times.”