James Houck Email & Phone Number

Editorial Director of What's Up? Media, based in Annapolis, Maryland. Award-winning publisher of monthly city and regional print magazines and daily digital media, including What's Up? Annapolis, What's Up? Eastern Shore, What's Up? Central Maryland, What's Up? Weddings, Whatsupmag.com, and several adjacent titles. More than 20 years professional experience as an editor, project manager, reporter, writer, communicator, and media specialist.

Listed skills include Writing, Editing, Publishing, Publications, and 28 others.

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  Editorial Director

  What'S Up? Media

  Jun 2001 - Present

  • Direct the editorial production and graphic design of five flagship magazines with gross annual sales of $3.7 Million: What’s Up? Annapolis (11x/year), What’s Up? Eastern Shore (11x/year), What’s Up? West County (6x/year), What’s Up? Sourcebook (1x/year), and What’s Up? Weddings (2x/year). They are glossy print, city and regional publications covering entertainment, sports, health, home & garden, dining, and lifestyle interests of the upscale Chesapeake Bay demographic. • Manage an annual department budget of $250,000 (three years of presenting below-budget annual figures while simultaneously increasing quality and quantity of content).• Hire and manage the house team of full-time editors, graphic designers, interns, and a pool of 100-plus contractor writers and photographers working closely with them on project development.• Develop the editorial strategy, schedule, and production process from concept to completion (creating, evaluating, proofing, revising, and approving of editorial content, layout positioning, and graphic aesthetics of monthly print issues and daily online content).• Create and maintain relationships with media and public relations personnel, as well as keycontacts throughout the region—often in reference to story pitches, event information, andartwork distribution.• Compose significant print and online content, including feature articles, columns, populardepartments and blogs, and social media distribution, while meeting daily, weekly, andmonthly deadlines.• Streamline copy for ancillary publications outsourced to What’s Up? Media, including AnneArundel County Department of Aging’s Services for Seniors Directory (2002—2009) and theUnited States Naval Academy’s Navy Guide to Annapolis (2005—2009).