Resume

Brian Straight

203-443-3416

Summary

Brian Straight is an award-winning editorial leader skilled in content development and the use of data andanalytics to drive digital engagement with more than 20 years of editorial leadership in newspapers, magazinesand online media.

Experience

FreightWaves

Founder of freightwaves.com; Managing Editor, FreightWaves;
Jan 2017 – Present
• Manage and oversee content initiatives including social media, editorial, and thought leadership.
• Founder of media news site
• Manage customer content initiatives
• Freightwaves.com has won over two dozen awards for editorial excellence
• Freightwaves.com is a two-time finalist for Website of the Year in the Azbee Awards

Freelance writer

Apr 2008 – Present
Work as freelance writer and editor with experience in business, transportation, sports and news.

Penton Media

Content Production Director/Managing Editor, Fleet Owner and AmericanTrucker magazines
April 2008 – January 2017 (8 years 10 months)
Content Production Director, Fleet Owner (2014–2017)
Managing Editor, Fleet Owner and FleetOwner.com (2008–2017)
Managing Editor, American Trucker (2008–2017)
• Generated 23% year-over-year growth in website visits vs. goal of 10% (visits due to social increasedmore than 1,000% in one year’s time – representing 10% of all site traffic)
• Leads division training sessions on web best practices
• Hits editorial ad-edit ratio budget goals on monthly basis
• Manages staff workflows to ensure brand’s monthly website and newsletter goals are met
• Implemented system of utilizing analytics reporting to revamp core coverage areas, thereby increasing online visitor retention

Journal Register Company

Executive Sports Editor, The Herald
Jul 2007 – May 2008 (11 months)
• Oversaw editorial assignment and story placements for sports sections of three daily newspapers plus11 weekly publications.
•Managed staff of 10 full time employees and 11 freelance writers and photographers

Managing Editor, The Herald
Jul 2004 – Jul 2007 (3 years 1 month)
• Responsible for overall content of seven-day-a-week a.m. daily (13,200 circ M-S, 27,000 Sunday).
• Newspaper won 27 editorial awards, including three New England Press Association honors andConnecticut Newspaper of the Year.
• Managed $1 million editorial budget and full-time staff of 26.

Sports Editor, The Herald
May 2002 – Jul 2004 (2 years 3 months)
• Responsible for content of seven-day-a-week a.m. daily (13,200 circ M-S, 27,000 Sunday)
• Produced two statistics pages for 15 sister papers, updated twice a night on deadline
• Conceptualized statistics-reporting system for high school sports coaches; implemented company-wide.

Sports Editor, Elm City Newspapers
Aug 2001 – May 2002 (10 months)

Responsible for content of three weekly newspapers (combined circ. 11,000)
Coordinate schedules for six freelancers

Sports Editor, Taunton Daily Gazette

May 2000 – Aug 2001 (1 year 4 months)

Responsible for photo/story assignments for four-person editorial staff
Layout/design of sports section on daily basis
Coordination of coverage assignments on overlapping communities with sister paper

Sports Editor, Woonsocket Call
Dec 1998 – May 2000 (1 year 6 months)

Responsible for photo/story assignments for seven-day-a-week section
Layout/design of section
Handling of all editorial matters

Assistant Sports Editor, Southern Rhode Island Newspapers
Jun 1998 – Dec 1998 (7 months)
Sports reporter, Southern RI Newspapers
May 1996 – Jun 1998 (2 years 2 months)

Responsible for coverage assignments/photo assignments for sports section of weekly newspaper (The Standard-Times, North Kingstown, R.I.; circ. 7,500)
Paste-up, layout decisions of said paper
Complementary coverage when available for four sister papers

Education

University of Rhode Island
B.A, Journalism, 1991 – 1996
South Kingstown High School, 1988 – 1989

Skills

Business-to-business writing
Budget management
Management skills
Content management
Editing
Newsletters
Communication
Teamwork
Leadership
Problem solving