What the f***?!

The following is a job posting for a "Proofreader/Associate Editor" at The Doctors Company, a physician-owned medical malpractice insurance company in Napa Valley:

"Provides answers to routine inquiries and other information as appropriate; processes check requests; maintains office supplies for department, including ordering, stocking and processing invoices for payment; answers department phones; processes incoming and outgoing mail on a daily basis; organizes and maintains filing systems; types routine correspondence; schedules appointments, maintains calendar, makes travel arrangements; enters, modifies and extracts database information; compiles reports as assigned; responsible for planning, implementation, monitoring and report assembly and distribution for special projects as assigned; within authority granted, develops project tracking mechanisms, identifies affected departments and components and works with cross-departmental staff to ensure they are correctly implemented; performs other duties as assigned."

The list of minimum qualification requirements was twice as long as the above description, and the only references to proofreading and editing read "excellent written, oral and telephone communication skills; good editing and proofreading skills with attention to detail."

What an insult to proofreaders and editors! What the company needs is an office grunt, and I told them so.