Frank Keegan

Frank J. Keegan

   fjkeegan@hotmail.com

Baltimore, MD 21230                                                                                                                                       C: 203-233-5442  

SUMMARY

Some may have seen the future of news. I have done it. We launched a five-edition, 256,000-circulation free six-day newspaper three months after I started as the sole newsroom employee. Within 18 months we grew to more than 400,000 daily readers. We won journalism awards in national competition, and against the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun and Wilmington News Journal. I supervised launch and then re-launch of our Web site after growing to 1.1 million page views a month in less than a year. We launched a 335,000-circulation Sunday, achieving readership of 643,000 in less than six months. This all required full involvement in every aspect of advertising, circulation and marketing. At seven daily newspapers, and with responsibility for two paid weeklies and three total market coverage publications, I conceived and directed major projects requiring research, strategic planning, marketing and budgeting. I have served successfully as a management representative in legal, quasi-legal and collective bargaining proceedings, and represent my newspapers a public speaker and organizer and moderator of public forums and debates. I developed news and marketing partnerships with two local television stations. Also, I write and take pictures as needed; sometimes even when not needed.

REPRESENTATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. Launched The Baltimore Examiner, examiner.com and baltimoreexaminer.com .
2. Conceived, planned and implemented additional daily editions at two newspapers with no increase in personnel.
3. Directed Web edition startup in Pennsylvania producing net positive cash flow from Day 1 and for 28 consecutive months thereafter.
4. Helped plan and launch new seventh-day Sunday in Indiana with no increase in personnel.
5. Increased household penetration three to seven percentage points against larger, better financed competitors in three markets.

EXPERIENCE:
2006-2009 Founding editor of The Baltimore Examiner. Peak newsroom of 40.

2001­-2005: Editor of Connecticut Post, 85,000 four-edition, seven-day paid. Newsroom of 92.

1994-2001: Editor of Express-Times, 50,000 four-edition, seven-day paid. Newsroom of 65. Directed Web startup and conversion to pagination.

1987-1994; Editor, Bristol Press Publishing Co., including the Bristol Press, a 20,000 six-day p.m./a.m., and two paid weeklies totaling 7,000. Negotiated with Newspaper Guild and participated in forming collective bargaining strategy.

1983-1987; Editor, The (Chambersburg) Public Opinion, 20,000 six-day paid. Newsroom, 22. Launched a second-class TMC.

1981-1983; Editor, The Sturgis Journal, 10,000 six-day paid. Newsroom, eight.

1972-1981; stringer, regional reporter/photographer, police reporter, city reporter, assistant city editor, city editor, The (Lafayette) Journal & Courier, 45,000 seven-day paid. City staff, eight.

SELECTED AWARDS:  Leadership recognition: 2008 Maryland/Delaware/District of Columbia Press Association Continuing Reporting and Sports Special Section, 2007 Best Editorial Writing; Best Local Column/critical thinking; Best Series, Best Investigative Reporting and Best Special Section; 2008 2^nd Place General Excellence Suburban Newspapers of America Newspaper of the Year. New England Newspaper Association General Excellence Merit Award 2004 and 2005. New England Newspaper Association "Publick Occurrences" awards in open competition with all New England newspapers regardless of size 1993 and 1994. Individual writing: State, regional or national writing and reporting excellence awards, including Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists First Amendment Award, First Place New England Associated Press News Executives Association for columns and First Place editorial writing, Pennsylvania Public Service Investigative Reporting award (staff won first place.) Youth Journalism International, which Bristol Press reporters Jackie and Steve Majerus-Collins grew from a high school program I started there, named their "Take No Prisoners" Award after me.

 Busted? Click here for my column about Baltimore Police payroll and overtime database we put on Web! They arrested me in my home in the middle of the night a few days later, then dropped all charges. 

My profile, including recommendations from neighbors, bosses, peers and those who have worked with and for me are on linkedin as well as under the "References" tab. Please contact them. Thanks.

A few more writing samples

• Don't worry about saving Earth
• Leave a few students behind 
• State officials can cut themselves
• Thomas: Debate makes nation strong
• Taney stained America with Dred Scott ruling 
• The Baltimore Clipper of media
• Faith excuses no evil
• Ban assaults on thinking