Alumni Spotlight: Tom Mitsos
Published July 10, 2026
Current Job Title
Copy editor for Gemini Media
Describe your current position.
I edit all articles for the company's three publications (Grand Rapids Business Journal, Grand Rapids Magazine and Michigan BLUE). I make sure stories are grammatically correct and align with AP style guidelines. I also check stories for factual errors and coach new reporters with style/writing questions.
To what extent does writing relate to your current position? What type of writing/design do you do for work?
If a story is missing information or awkwardly worded, I need to be able to re-write it in a way that succinctly conveys the message. I also write headlines for the print publications, which often require short and concise headlines. Each publication has its own voice, (the Business Journal is straight news writing, whereas BLUE is more flowery and poetic), so I have to ensure each story matches the voice of the publication.
In addition to my full-time job, I do freelance work for a Detroit Red Wings website and have written for The Athletic.
Please describe your path from graduation at GVSU to your current position.
After graduating, I contacted Mary Ullmer, who I had interviewed for a paper in college and was then the sports editor of The Grand Rapids Press. I was hoping for an internship, but she surprised me with a part-time job recording high school sports scores. After a year, I worked my way up to copy editor and split my time between that and as a high school sports reporter for seven years at The Press/MLive. In 2016, I was laid off from MLive and, again, reached out to a contact I had made during my internship at Gemini. Editor Carole Valade needed a copy editor when I was laid off, and I was offered the position about a month later.
What parts of the writing major had the strongest impact on you as a professional?
Any classes that featured peer discussion on stories had a positive impact. If a reporter didn't include important information that should be in a story, I need to be able to explain that but do it in a way so they don't take it personally or don't feel like I'm talking down to them. My internship at Gemini Publications gave me firsthand experience of how newspapers/magazines operate. I also learned the importance of changing my writing style to fit the publication.
What advice would you offer to current/future writing majors at Grand Valley?
Take on as many internship opportunities as you can. Today's job market is all about who you know — make connections. Go to networking events and put yourself out there.