James Webb Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Greater Chicago Area

Leading a team of strategists, tacticians and content specialists at 30-year public affairs communications firm, providing services to clients in private, public and nonprofit sectors. Responsibilities include relationship management, engagement planning and critical communications consulting.

Chicago

Proposed reinstitution of dormant role of investigative enterprise team leader for the newspaper’s largest news desk, and promoted to fill the position. • Developed mission for real time, “deep-dive” coverage on breaking news and short-to-medium term investigations of timely topics. Established goals for cross-departmental collaboration, particularly with digital team, and coverage priorities for team of reporters.• Directed coverage of Chicago’s handling of May 2012 NATO Summit that brought more than 60 world leaders and thousands of protestors to the city.• Team of 5-8 reporters has generated more than 75 front-page stories and dozens of full-length “focus page” marquis presentations. Coverage included exclusive investigative stories on 2010 races for U.S. Senate and governor, Chicago’s transition to the first new mayor in two decades and problems of crime and education in the city.

Recruited to strengthen competitive edge and move political team into the digital age. Directly supervised beat and investigative reporters covering Chicago City Hall, Cook County government and the Illinois Capitol during one of the most tumultuous periods in state political history, including ascendance of Barack Obama, simultaneous federal investigations of city and state government and the arrest and impeachment of the sitting governor. Taped weekly three-minute television segment on Illinois politics for Tribune-owned CLTV (Chicago Land Television). Appeared live on CLTV and WGN-TV to discuss breaking political news.o Launched and edited Tribune’s first local politics blog, Clout Street. o Created and reinforced a “Web-first” focus for government beat reporters using wire service experience and training to bring market-leading immediacy to spot news coverage. Worked with top newspaper editors and Web site staff to set and enforce news standards for online political/government reporting.

Chicago

Directly responsible for 24-hour, 7-day news coverage across Illinois for more than 100 newspaper and broadcast customers. Supervised more than two dozen journalists and support staff in Illinois; managed schedules, performance evaluations and work rules in union shop. Edited stories for national distribution, wrote coverage guidelines for deputy editors and interacted with news managers from member newspapers and broadcast outlets throughout the state.• Authored coverage guidelines and co-authored mission for improving Illinois’ AP news report with emphasis on improved speed, accuracy and news judgment. • Results included faster and more authoritative coverage on major national news stories, including United Airlines bankruptcy, Chicago E-2 nightclub disaster, mass commutation and closing of Illinois Death Row, indictment of former Gov. George Ryan and Illinois response to 9-11 attacks. • Responded to brain drain of experienced wire service reporters by organizing training sessions on topics ranging from feature writing to “boot camp” for reporting from the scene of a breaking story.

Greater Chicago Area

Established one-person bureau for news coverage in suburban Chicago and northwestern Illinois. Responsibilities included identifying and covering regional, state and national stories as well as establishing and maintaining good relationships with member newspapers and broadcast stations in the region. Reported and wrote on Illinois casino gambling, criminal trials and assisted in coverage of state legislature.

Chicago

Reported spot and enterprise stories for state and national wires, emphasis on government and politics. Chicago day supervisor from 1991-1998, assigned and edited stories, supervised political campaign operations.

Philadelphia

Reporter and weekend supervisor for 24/7 news wire service.

Louisville, Ky

Rewrite and broadcast desk in Louisville AP office and legislative relief staffer for spring session of Kentucky General Assembly in Frankfort.

St. Louis

Vacation-relief staffer in St. Louis bureau.

M.A., Public Affairs Reporting

Activities and Societies: Internship with Associated Press covering spring 1987 session of Illinois General Assembly.

B.A., Journalism