Mark Schaaf Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

I oversaw public information and communications strategy related to Racine County and its initiatives. My work included media relations, messaging, online content, email newsletter, internal communications, social media and special projects. In March 2020, I was appointed director of the Racine County Joint Information Center in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, I coordinated local government communications related to the Foxconn economic development project.

Racine, Wi

I covered local, state and federal politics, as well as Racine County government and the Village of Mount Pleasant, for Racine County's daily newspaper. My beats included coverage of House Speaker Paul Ryan, state government, and elections. I received a Wisconsin Newspaper Association first place award in local government reporting in 2016.

As the editor of Oak Creek Patch, I developed the site into a visible and respected news source in the community, with about 20,000 unique visitors per month. I was involved in all aspects of hundreds of stories, including the writing, art, presentation and promotion. I primarily covered city government, crime, schools and business. I also maintained the site's presence on Facebook and Twitter, oversaw the marketing of the site and represented Patch at community events.

Waukesha, Wi

General assignment reporter covering six communities in suburban Milwaukee. I wrote five to seven bylined stories per week, with particular focus on municipal government, schools, police, business, spot news and features.

I oversaw the biweekly, broadsheet newspaper’s day-to-day operation as editor- in-chief during 2006-07 school year. Over the course of three years, I wrote hundreds of stories, covering student government, police, sports, student features and spot news.

I worked as part-time reporter while finishing classes at UW-Eau Claire. I wrote one bylined story per week while assisting on the copy desk.

I wrote an average of three stories per week in areas of spot news, municipal government and general features.