Editing

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

Current engagements

Editor-in-chief, Louisville.com

This hyperlocal community website provides original digital content—text, photos, and videos—about the 31st largest city in the United States (population 741,096), from the music and arts scene to theater and restaurant news, with emphasis on major events such as the Kentucky Derby. I became editor-in-chief in January 2010 on a part-time basis (20 hours a week): compared to 2009, visits to Louisville.com increased 79 percent in 2011 (665,561 to 1,194,066).

In 2011, Louisville.com won Louisville Magazine’s Best of Louisville award in the local website category, an honor it hadn’t won since 1999. And it placed second in LEO Weekly‘s 2011 Readers’ Choice awards in the same category.

To achieve this growth, I’ve

  • found and recruited contributing writers (currently the site has 42, previously it had two)
  • increased publication rate from one new piece of original content a day to as many as 20
  • attracted talented writers: current contributors include an Associated Press writer, a former TV sports personality, and the host of one of the city’s top-rated morning radio shows
  • created and implemented a pay scale to compensate writers in a manner that’s competitive for bloggers but appropriate for a startup local news organization
  • developed the site’s editorial direction to focus on 22 citywide subject areas (such as family and parenting, theater, music, politics, and sports)
  • created backend infrastructure, including an editorial calendar, Google Group for staff communications, and Google Site containing all documentation for how to update the website
  • linked social media accounts to the website’s RSS feed so that new articles are automatically directed to our fans and followers on sites they visit regularly throughout the day (Facebook is now the site’s third largest source of visits)
  • grown the site’s Facebook presence from 100 to 3,600 fans and Twitter presence from 1,800 to 4,900 followers; created accounts on Foursquare (620 friends) and Tumblr (110 followers)
  • incorporated content from Louisville Magazine (published by Louisville.com’s owner), a monthly cultural publication with a well-educated and affluent print readership of 100,000 people into the site
  • guided technical and visual improvements, including an ongoing overhaul of the homepage’s layout and upgrading its CMS from Drupal 5 to 6
  • had the site approved for indexing by Google News
  • researched and solicited proposals from software developers about replicating the site’s content in an iPhone application

Ongoing duties include

  • directing Louisville.com’s editorial coverage
  • recruiting writers
  • working with the owners and business team to improve the site’s return on investment
  • promoting the site through social media, publicists of article subjects, and area events
  • supervising 42 freelance contributors and five interns, including issues regarding invoices, the quantity and quality of submissions, and termination
  • maximizing SEO opportunities
  • managing the site’s social media accounts to engage with the community
  • obtaining media credentials for writers
  • scheduling interviews with local and touring performers
  • providing feedback, story ideas, professional-development advice, and promotional tips to writers
  • troubleshooting technical issues
  • writing a weekly email blast highlighting upcoming events that gets sent to 4,400 subscribers
  • writing a daily news summary and other articles
  • appearing 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

BlackBook’s City Guide iPhone app and website feature hundreds of succinct reviews identifying the hippest restaurants, bars, clubs, shops, and hotels for nightlife connoisseurs. “Written by and for discerning savants in each city, these guides from the minds behind BlackBook offer fresh and pithy listings for the most intriguing and fashion-forward hot spots.” The guide contains the latest venue details and break the cities down by theme, style, and interest.

As city editor for Louisville, I wrote 100 reviews of area bars, restaurants, hotels, and shops, highlighting the best ones as editor’s picks to be featured on the app and website. I also verified each listing’s data, categorized them, and obtained photos.

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

Previous 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

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