Editing

To read my clips, select the link (you may need Adobe Reader, a free download, to view some of them).

Engagements

Editor, Eater Louisville
November 2012–present

Eater LouisvilleWrite one to three posts a day (more than 200 total) for the city’s go-to source of dining and nightlife news. Drew 100,000 page views and 42,000 unique visits in just its second full month. At the forefront of the news cycle on major stories, including a labor issue that precipitated the closing of an iconic, nationally known restaurant. Manage the site’s Facebook Fan Page and Twitter accounts, growing both from inception to more than 500 fans and followers in three months. Compile a weekly newsletter that reaches 500 subscribers. Assign and coordinate freelance photographers. Consulted on the taping of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods America with Andrew Zimmern Kentucky episode (to air in Summer 2013).

Director of content and editorial strategy, Louisville.com
January 2010–present

Created and implement the editorial strategy for this hyperlocal, community-driven, entertainment news website that provides original digital content about a metropolitan area with 741,096 people. Compared to 2009, visits increased 131 percent in 2012 (665,000 to 1.54 million). It now ranks first in the market among both independent and locally owned websites, eighth out of all media websites.

To achieve this growth, I

  • increased the freelance writers from two to 50, relying almost exclusively on amateurs
  • increased the site’s original content by 900 percent (from 20 new articles a month to around 200), but only increased the budget for contributions by 57 percent
  • created a competitive pay scale to compensate writers; on average, the site publishes 200 articles a month at a total cost of $1,700
  • developed the site’s editorial direction to focus on 14 entertainment subject areas
  • created all backend infrastructure, including an editorial calendar on Google Calendar, a Google Group for staff communications, and a Google Site with procedures
  • linked social media accounts to the RSS feed so new articles automatically reach our fans
  • increased the Facebook presence from 100 to 6,000 fans and Twitter presence from 1,800 to 6,900 followers; launched Foursquare, Google +, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube accounts
  • added features to increase interactivity, social media sharing, and time spent on the site
  • redesigned the website’s home page; mocked up the new layout, solicited feedback, and oversaw the designer and developer’s implementation
  • launched a joint internship program with Louisville Magazine that provides hands-on experience in new and traditional media for as many as eight college students at a time
  • promote and compile a weekly email blast highlighting upcoming events, growing the subscription base from 3,500 to 7,500 subscribers
  • ensure our events calendar is the most complete one in the region
  • appear Fridays on 102.3 The Max’s Lambert & Lindsey Morning Show to promote the site by discussing upcoming weekend events (sample audio here)

City Editor, BlackBook
January 2011–January 2012

BlackBook’s City Guide iPhone and Android apps and website identify the hippest restaurants, bars, clubs, shops, and hotels. The guide contains the latest venue details and breaks the cities down by theme, style, and interest.

As city editor for Louisville, I reviewed 100 area bars, restaurants, hotels, and shops, highlighting the best ones as editor’s picks to be featured on the apps and website.

Download the free app at the iTunes store or view the listings at BlackBook’s website.

Other freelance engagements

  • Training courses, brochures, and newsletters for the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), the U.S. Department of Defense’s civilian employee management system
  • Dozens of reports on reproductive health and proposals for international development firms, including United States Agency for International Development (USAID) cooperating agencies
  • Websites for an international manufacturing firm and international development consultancies
  • A mural for the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
  • Campaign materials for a Louisville, KY, Metro Council candidate, including his website, mailers, and handouts
  • Newsletters for the American Sportfishing Association

Previous full-time engagements

Resource Consultants Inc. (New Serco)
October 2003–August 2004

Edited directives, communications, and more than 75 network-compatibility assessments of commercial software for Headquarters, Department of the Army. Coordinated the publications process with authors, reviewers, and supervisors. Gained Secret clearance.

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Now Cardno Emerging Markets)
March 2002–September 2003

Edited all documents for an $85 million, five-year U.S. Agency for International Development-funded program that increased access to and demand for reproductive health and family planning services in developing countries through the private sector. Developed a publication process to guide documents from inception to publication. Created a training presentation about proper grammar.

Booz Allen Hamilton
August 2000–March 2002

Wrote and edited material related to information assurance and human factors. Developed proposal themes for a $100 million Department of Defense procurement, which was later won. Supervised an assistant editor. Produced writing guidelines. Gained Secret clearance.

To contact me about an assignment, please e-mail zach@zacheverson.com.