Executive Editor
The Coloradoan (Fort Collins, CO; 25,000 circ.) Dec. 2011-present
Have I mentioned how much I love community journalism? The ability to get your arms around the needs of a community, interact with residents, tell the tales they'd like to see and point your resources towards the problems that need resolved is heady, fast, important and fun. It's hard work that never lets up, but with the right team, we've been able to make the Coloradoan one of the most innovative and community-driven news outlets in the company.
- » Demonstrated monthly readership growth online not just overall, but for deep enterprise journalism using community feedback and engagement. Traffic now exceeds pre-meter levels, and enterprise stories are among the most read by the community.
- » Reorganized the news team around an outreach strategy to maximize resources available to the public.
- » Led community forums to broaden understanding and enlightenment around topics relevant to the region.
- » Named Gannett's Innovator of the Year for 2012, and brought home record number of awards from the Colorado Press Association in 2012.
- » Worked to engage print readership digitally; the Coloradoan's digital activation rate for print subscribers is among the highest in Gannett.
- » Work on engagement, metrics and outreach was featured in Columbia Journalism Review in 2013.
- » To be continued. . . .
Editor
The Times-News (Twin Falls, ID; 20,000 circ.) Feb. 2011-present
The return to community journalism has been exciting. The ability to work directly with the entire news operation has allowed us to make rapid strides in short amounts of time. In addition, I believe in intense engagement with our readership, both online and off — being in a community daily has allowed me to more easily take the pulse of the region and create the most compelling product for them.
- » Led the paper to a one-day all-time page view record and quarterly all-time readership record.
- » Created and implemented a print redesign that maximized personnel efficiency and space while retaining flexibility.
- » Greatly increased engagement between the newsroom and the public through public meetings and service organizations.
- » Write a column and 2-3 editorials per week in addition to long-range planning, staff development and hands-on editing.
- » Manage newsroom budget, including payroll and expense.
Assistant Managing Editor
The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT; 130,000 circ.) Aug. 2004-Feb. 2011
Along with coaching a large staff of seasoned journalists at a metro daily, I played a key role in the strategic direction of the news organization. I spent a lot of time working with editors, production staff and reporters to teach them to be responsive to readership trends in their reporting. (Hired as AME/Presentation in 2004, online and niche duties added in 2007, title reflects current duties as of 2009.)
- » Led online department to nearly double average daily page views in less than a year.
- » Created a work process and did hands on coding for the Tribune's first iPhone applications.
- » Led both the print and web products through workflow, product and process redesigns.
- » Created product structure and advertising model for Buzz, a free daily afternoon commuter tabloid.
- » Led a technology committee to upgrade software, hardware and the front-end system.
- » Supervised the launch of IN, a new YRP with a circulation of 60,000 and staff of four.
- » Handle operating and capital expense budgeting through mid-level news editors.
- » Speaker at SND international workshop, APSE national conference and the Poynter Institute.
Managing Editor for Presentation
The Independent (Grand Island, NE; 24,000 circ.) Nov. 2003-Aug. 2004
During my second tour in Grand Island, I was able to reconnect with community news on a senior level. One of the gratifying things about working in a smaller environment is that it's easy to institute changes and more quickly measure the response from the public.
- » Demonstrated single-copy upswing through tracking and augmenting rack content.
- » Featured grid storytelling and layering techniques as a Poynter online centerpiece.
- » Coached and increased collaboration between reporters, editors and designers.
- » Redesigned and trained staff of the Brainerd Dispatch for Morris Communications.
Design Director
The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC; 50,000 circ.) May 2000-Nov. 2003
At the time, Myrtle Beach was one of Knight RidderÕs incubators for talent, and as such always had a stockpile of talented and ambitious journalists. I managed a staff of seven visual journalists and learned how to be a key player in a middle-management environment full of excellent editors. (Note: Hired as a page designer, promoted to design director 4 months later.)
- » Led a team to carry The Sun News through a 50-inch reduction and pagination process.
- » Responsible for hiring, coaching and furthering growth of a seven-person design staff.
- » Installed "maestro" concept of marrying visuals, text and design in packages.
- » Increased entry points, layers, navigability and ease of use for non-traditional readers.
- » Redesigned weekly entertainment magazine to appeal to wider range of readers.
Copy editor, entertainment editor, graphics editor
The Independent (Grand Island, NE; 24,000 circ.) April 1998-May 2000
Although my first job in Grand Island was as a copy editor, I didn't stay in that position for long. I became the entertainment editor after creating a free tabloid that proved to be years ahead of its time. Before I left The Independent, I was designing the front page, coaching stringers and acting as a one-person graphics staff.
- » Worked with writers and photographers to design packages and infographics.
- » Conceived and designed 3C, a new weekly entertainment magazine for mid-Nebraska's Tri-Cities area.
- » Increased readership of under-30 demographic.
Adjunct Professor
Hastings College (Hastings, NE) Aug. 1999-May 2000
During my time at The Independent, I also served as an adjunct professor at a 4-year liberal arts college. In this capacity, I was able to preach what I practice, and teach budding communications students the importance of writing in the business world.
- » Taught writing skills and business communications (200-level classes).
- » Worked to grow students' familiarity with technology and writing proficiency.