John Mccosh Email & Phone Number

Greater Atlanta Area

I’m a seasoned writer and editor with decades of experience in journalism and government public affairs. I am now the founding editor in chief of a soon-to-debut independent, nonprofit news organization based in Atlanta. We’re building a newsroom that will focus on connecting public policy to the people it affects. Our reporters and editors will bring a fresh perspective to coverage of the state’s biggest issues. My career reflects my commitment to strong, accurate and people-focused journalism, having served as an investigative reporter, an editor and a bureau chief in a major metro newsroom in Georgia.

Greater Atlanta Area

I write articles, speeches and commentary for clients and edit their complex and technical copy into easy-to-understand prose. I also prepare clients for media interviews and opportunities. Crisis strategy and communications is a specialty. I can help clients avoid, mitigate and recover from bad news. McCosh Communications’ client list includes Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the American Heart Association News, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, Edelman Atlanta, CBL Properties and Brown & Brown Insurance.

Greater Atlanta Area

Planned and executed the organization’s external communications, including media relations, digital strategy, social media and event coordination. Served as GBPI’s primary media contact, generating news coverage and preparing policy analysts and subject matter experts for media interviews. Coached state policy analysts to improve storytelling, conciseness and clarity. Wrote articles, bylined commentary, speeches, press releases, video and event scripts, email campaigns, website copy and more. Edited complex reports on state government policies into news-style prose easily understood by a general audience. Supervised a communications associate and pitched in to make our small team successful with spot photography and videos.

Managed public relations and media strategies that positioned the organization as one of the nation’s leading nonprofit consumer credit counseling agencies during the Great Recession and foreclosure crisis. Coordinated executive interviews with local and national media. Worked with members of Congress, the U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to publicize large-scale financial management workshops for consumers. Wrote and edited donor communications and client and employee digital newsletters. Wrote speeches that the organization’s president and other executives delivered to local, state and national audiences.

Provided strategic communications to clients, writing and editing for a wide variety of audiences. Wrote annual reports, crisis communications packages, company histories and business articles. Coached clients on ideal messages and potential pitfalls before media interviews.

Led writing projects for public affairs firm serving clients who aimed to influence state public policies and regulations. Created key messages for client campaigns. Wrote educational communications geared to lawmakers and the media and bylined articles for executives. Clients included the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Air Line Pilots Association.

Investigated state and local government officials and operations. Tracked regional growth and development with a focus on metro Atlanta’s population-related problems, including traffic congestion, air pollution and water quality. Supervised 10 reporters producing stories for daily suburban editions.

Covered commercial real estate during metro Atlanta building boom. Used public-records research skills to routinely break news about growth and development.