Jim Knight Email & Phone Number

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Paladin Communications provides executive communications, issue and crisis management, public relations and marketing consultation. Support c-suite with internal and external, full-spectrum communications tied to business objectives. More than 25 years experience in executive counsel, strategy setting and implementation, issue and crisis management, web, social media and traditional media. Emphasis on education and health care sectors as well as start-up and expanding organizations.

Mount Pleasant, Mi

Taught four writing intensive journalism courses – three sections of Writing for Mass Media and one section of Editing.

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Designed and implemented strategic marketing and communications plans for Central Michigan University Athletics. Led marketing and communications teams and oversaw media relations, social media strategy for more than 30 accounts and executive communications. Served as lead media contact for football and CMU Athletics administration.

Taught courses in feature writing (JRN 430), current issues in mass communication (JRN 500) and writing for the mass media (JRN 202). All were writing intensive courses. Planned and coordinated special project in 2016 in JRN 500 that resulted in a seven-page article in Editor & Publisher on how students view the future of newspapers.

Mt. Pleasant, Mi

Designed and implemented strategic communications and marketing plans for the CMU College of Medicine. Communications plans included internal and external audiences in print, web and social media. Marketing included clinical operations, fundraising and student recruitment and event management.

Ann Arbor, Mi

Responsible for the planning and implementation of a variety of employee communications and marketing programs that supported all units of University Human Resources. Led eight-person staff that provided strategic communications plans on multiple formats (print, web, video, social media).

One of the first management hires for a groundbreaking news organization. Hired 14 journalists with flair for online and social media in first 60 days. Ensured content reached readers in a variety of formats – website, the twice-a-week print product, Facebook, Twitter and more. Led staff of seven in sports and four in photo/video. Served as lead manager on project to redesign key content pages on website.

Directed newsroom and collaborated with other department leaders in a newly created role. Managed newsroom budget of $5 million. Led initiatives to attract new readers in print and online. Worked with advertising team to launch niche products.

Made several hires in first 18 months that resulted in 22 Associated Press Sports Editors writing and section awards in seven years. Launched section wraps for Michigan football Saturdays, leading to increases in circulation and advertising. Role extended beyond sports, including leadership of team that spearheaded installation of archiving/photo processing software.