Michael Hoad Email & Phone Number

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I was re-hired to maximize traffic as sports audiences stabilized in the wake of COVID-19. My first full month of employment resulted in a 26% month-over-month traffic increase, which became the new traffic floor.I helped Yahoo Sports Canada achieve all-time highs in Monthly Active Users, Daily Active Users, Content Views and Search Content Views. I also led the team to No. 1 in Comscore rankings on four different occasions (a first for Yahoo Sports Canada) while consistently scoring in the top-3 in Canada.I implemented SEO best practices to significantly boost search traffic and grow audience. These changes led to a 39% year-over-year increase in total users for 2023.Realizing our Blue Jays audience was underserved, I quarterbacked Blue Jays content planning for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, leading to a 105% year-over-year increase in original content views from 2021. I also spearheaded coverage of two Olympic Games, resulting in record traffic.I represented Yahoo Sports Canada at company-wide meetings and presented content plans to senior leaders. Additional responsibilities included helping manage a team of 10 freelancers and contributors, interviewing prospective employees and assisting in the hiring and onboarding process.

Toronto, Canada Area

I returned to Sportsnet.ca and brought new ideas on how to increase daily digital traffic. I implemented an improved strategy for mobile push alerts and helped refine the brand's social media voice. I also bolstered communication within the organization by holding more frequent meetings with editors and writers. As the COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered the sports landscape, I was responsible for developing and executing creative content plans to maintain digital traffic.

Toronto, Canada Area

During my employment with Yahoo Sports Canada, the website enjoyed a record-setting traffic year thanks in large part to my contributions.I joined Yahoo Sports Canada ahead of the Toronto Raptors' 2019 championship run and instantly became a valuable member of the team as we provided top-notch coverage in the digital space.In addition to basketball, I oversaw and contributed to the company's hockey, baseball, tennis, soccer and rugby content strategy and execution. My duties included managing the website, operating multiple social media platforms, writing, editing and assigning stories. I led a revamped Fantasy Sports content plan and was the primary point of contact between the Canada office and the United States. I also represented the sports team at daily interdepartmental editorial meetings.

Toronto, Canada Area

After freelancing with Sportsnet for approximately two years, I was hired full-time as an Associate Editor. I was assigned greater responsibility on the Sportsnet.ca Web Desk, overseeing the entire website, executing sales obligations and running point on important editorial decisions. Due in large part to my contributions, Sportsnet.ca became the No. 1 sports website in Canada and has stayed there two years running.In addition to editing and publishing columns and articles, I was required to write in a wide variety of styles ranging from news stories to opinion pieces to viral content. Various social media platforms were operated under the Sportsnet brand.Working in more of a leadership role, I was tasked with training interns and freelancers to ensure their quality of work was up to company standard.

Toronto, Canada Area

After interning at the Sportsnet.ca Web Desk, I was hired back as a freelancer where I served as an editor for the site's columnists and contributors. Outside of these duties, I was often asked to write creative breaking news stories to inform readers on the latest information as quickly as possible. Various social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, were constantly operated and monitored. Posting content to social media using the Sportsnet accounts was a regular responsibility.Additionally, I was tasked with populating Sportsnet.ca with wire copy and original content, using my news judgment to determine where to position pieces on the website. I was also in charge of managing certain pages of the website during Sportsnet's marquee events.

Toronto, Canada Area

SB Nation is the fastest-growing online sports media brand and the largest network of fan-centric sports communities. Dedicated to the Toronto Raptors, Raptors HQ provides the highest-quality coverage, commentary, and community during the season, in the offseason, on game day, and beyond.Writing creative and thought-provoking content, I helped create a space where readers could interact with authors and with one another. These types of stories built and retained an audience. Readers are more likely to return to the website if the articles are engaging and interactive.I was responsible for writing many different types of pieces including: breaking news stories, game previews, game recaps, and features.

Toronto, Canada Area

Tip of the Tower is a Toronto news and opinions website sponsored by the FanSided Network. Tip of the Tower is dedicated to providing top-notch Toronto Sports news, views and original content.As a staff writer, I covered the Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Argonauts and Toronto Maple Leafs. Throughout my time at Tip of the Tower, I learned how to incorporate the multimedia components that are transforming the industry. Whether it be embedding tweets or Facebook posts, inserting videos, or linking to other stories, I learned and developed the tools to prepare me for the changing face of sports journalism.I authored several types of articles including game previews, post-game analysis, opinion pieces, and news stories, demonstrating my range as a writer.

Toronto, Canada Area

As an intern, I was responsible for publishing stories from the newswire and writing three different headlines per article. I would then select a suitable photo to accompany the piece, and write the cutline. The final step was selecting where to place the story on the website, which honed my sense of news judgment. Through my hard-working nature, I quickly mastered Sportsnet's WordPress system.Additionally, I proved I capable of writing high-quality original content for a major sports news outlet on a daily basis. For two months, I wrote Raptors preview stories for every game on the schedule. Working with a variety of editors, I was consistently given positive feedback on my work.While interning, I was required to operate and monitor a multitude of social media platforms to keep up to date with the latest news and trends in the sports world. If a story arose, I would often be asked to write an article on it, publishing under my byline.

Toronto, Canada Area

The Toronto Observer is a multiplatform news organization staffed by students enrolled in the journalism programs at Centennial College in Toronto, Canada. In recent years, it has been recognized as one of the best college or university news websites in Ontario.Throughout my time at Centennial College, I was responsible for writing original content for The Toronto Observer. Stories ranged from features on university-level athletes to a piece on a member of the Baltimore Orioles. Contributing to this website, I was able to gain exposure to a variety of levels of sport.

Toronto, Canada Area

Established in 1995 by Hall of Fame baseball writer Bob Elliott, the Canadian Baseball Network is dedicated to promoting baseball in Canada from coast to coast. Covering spring training in 2014, Elliott requested to read a piece I had written on a Canadian baseball prospect in the Houston Astros' minor-league system. I sent the story over to him and it was quickly published on the CBN website. In the fall of that year, I had the opportunity to cover Tournament 12 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, publishing my game stories on the site.

Toronto, Canada Area

Founded in 1852, the Royal Canadian Yacht Club is one of Canada's most renowned sailing, sports and social clubs attracting guests from across North America and Internationally.Working as a tennis coach, I was responsible for developing and executing lesson plans on a daily basis. Students ranged in age from five to 16, so creativity and adaptability were paramount. I taught the fundamentals of tennis, as well as various strategies for both singles and doubles play. Mixing drills with suitable instructional games, I ensured each student was sent home with knowledge of the sport, as well as a smile on their face. I was given positive feedback for my coaching by the racquets director and parents of students. I also developed excellent relationships with members of the club.

Post-Graduate Certificate, Sports Journalism

Activities and Societies: Student Council; Co-host and Producer of HAM Radio; Host and Producer of the B2M2 Podcast

Bachelor'S Degree, Honours Sociology

Activities and Societies: Sports Writer for The Cord; Laurier Sociology Students Association Maxwell's Award of Excellence (Highest GPA.

High School

Activities and Societies: Sports Writer for The Grifter Top 10 Honour Roll Various course-specific academic awards