John Wilpers 248 Highland St., Marshfield, MA 02050; 617.688.0137; [email protected]; Twitter: johnwilpers
SUMMARY: Dynamic publishing executive with significant print and online start-up experience. Now focused on building reach, relevance, and revenue for media companies by incorporating high-quality local bloggers in print and online products. Also built companies to capture new markets, achieve new revenues, increase readership, realize savings, forge alliances, and create prize-winning content. Highly effective motivator known for using innovative team-building methods. Blog: johnwilpers.wordpress.com
STRENGTHS: • Innovative thinker • Team builder & motivator • Persuasive communicator • Strategic planner • Bridge-builder in community • Editorial award winner
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
• JOHN WILPERS MEDIA CONSULTING, President, Marshfield, MA, 2007-present Help companies increase reach, relevance, readership, and revenue with innovative strategies, including finding/recruiting/curating high-quality bloggers, and conducting newsroom “idea-mining” projects. Clients: • LA Times • Christian Science Monitor • GlobalPost; • Miami Herald • Naples (FL) Daily News
• BOSTONOW, Editor-in-chief, 2006-2007 Launched new free daily newspaper highlighting community involvement through publication in the newspaper of bloggers and the webcasting of the daily news meeting. Circulation: 119,000 - 4,000 bloggers called BostonNOW home and had excerpts published regularly in the paper - Circulation growth 30% in three months; Blog-related revenue exceeded $100,000
• WASHINGTON EXAMINER, Editor-in-chief, 2004-2005 Led launch of second major free home-delivered daily paper in the U.S. Circulation: 262,000; Staff: 52 - Built media partnerships with: Two leading radio stations, the #2 and fastest-growing TV station, the public TV station, major political magazines, the DC tourism organization, the top nonprofits.
• BOSTON METRO NEWSPAPER, Editor-in-chief, 2002-2003 Responsible for editorial operation of Boston’s first free metro daily. - Increased readership from 160,000 to 510,000, reversing 20,000 loss of predecessor. - Helped double ad revenue in 18 months; fastest Metro ever to reach profitability.
• AMERICA ONLINE/DIGITAL CITY BOSTON, Editor-in-chief/ Production Director, 1997 - 2001 Managed editorial and production operations. Directed 24 editors in eight cities. - Increased daily page views from 25,000 to 200,000. One of AOL's top three cities.
• THE INFORMED PATIENT, CEO & Publisher, Marshfield, MA, 1995 - 1997 News service offered layman's English "translations" of breaking medical news via print, Internet, phone. Produced business plan, Web site. Led “road show” presentations to 17 major health insurance companies.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Editor in chief, Community Newspaper Co., Boston; Editor in chief, TAB Newspapers; Editor in chief, The Bridgeport (CT) Post; Editor in chief, Ingersoll Publications (240 daily and weekly newspapers in 17 states, Great Britain and Ireland); Editor in chief, Century Publications (a weekly group around Boston); Columnist, education editor, projects reporter, The Boston Herald; State editor, Burlington (VT) Free Press; Editor, Bradford (VT) and Woodsville (NH) weekly newspapers; Editorial writer, The Boston Globe; Editor, Palmer (MA) Journal; Asst. Editor, Government Executive Magazine in Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science, Education, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
COMMUNITY SERVICE: • Founded soccer skills/self-esteem building program for girls ages 2-10 in ’96; graduate 250 girls/yr.; raised $6,800 for school library books. Recipient Boston College “Heights Award.” Hotshotssoccer.org • In my 14th year performing as the Mother Ginger character in the second-largest Boston Nutcracker.
PERSONAL: Married, 2 daughters (22, 17); excellent health; surfer, fisherman, watercolor artist, gardener