CNTRL Media, LLC June 2014 – Present
Freelance Journalist, On-Air Host & Moderator, Editor-in-Chief, Content Manager, Writer & Video Content Creator
Create editorial calendars and content strategies in conjunction with start-ups and major brands. Pitch, research, report, and write feature stories on topics including technology, business, finance, social justice, climate change, finance, luxury & lifestyle, health & wellness, and automotive topics. Bylines include: Elle, National Geographic, Travel & Leisure, Car & Driver, TechCrunch, The Verge, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, Maxim, Yahoo, Forbes, Fortune, Money Magazine, Shondaland, Motor Trend, CNN, CNBC, PBS, KBB, CNET, and Encyclopedia Britannica. Moderate and host audio, video, and live events for publications Fortune, Motor Trend, CNN, CNBC, PBS, Inc. Magazine, and the Small Business Administration.
- Pitch, report, and write feature stories for major, award-winning, global media outlets listed above.Clips available at abigailbassett.com.
- Moderate and host conferences, podcasts, online, live, and on-air events, and create video content for Fortune, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, TechCrunch, and other top-tier outlets. Clips and portfolio available at abigailbassett.com
- Co-host a 13-episode, live-to-tape, 22-minute, broadcast show for Motor Trend on Demand (Discovery), on the future of technology and transportation.
- Create editorial calendars, style templates and guides, and content plans for start-ups and Fortune 500 companies.
- Manage in-office and remote full-time and freelance journalists and content creators to create compelling content for those content plans for a variety of brands and media outlets.
- Edit content using AP-Style and/or Chicago-Style content for various outlets including Lending Tree and CarFax.
- Ghostwrite content for top-tier CEO’s for Huffington Post, Business.com, and Thrive Global.
- Created and produced video and digital content for start-ups, yoga studios, and major brands, including Castlight Health, Cole Haan, Lenovo, Harmon, HydraFacial, The Hartford, Deem Travel, and Mercedes-Benz.
- Wrote content for, and built a Shopify site with blog and editorial calendar for the men’s skincare line Tenzing Skincare.
- Edit content using AP-Style and Chicago-Style content for various outlets, including Lending Tree and CarFax.
- Guest lecturer for multiple universities, including Michigan State, University of Southern California, and Providence College.
Edmunds July 2017 – August 2018
Senior Director, Video, Social Media & Photography
Strategically built, implemented, and grew a video, photo, and social media strategy that functioned across Edmunds’ multiple social media platforms, various video platforms, and the Edmunds site. Collaborated across the company with executives to create an innovative video, social, photographic, and written content to elevate the brand to a household name in the mind of the consumer.
- Managed a $600,000 budget annually, 12 full-time employees, and freelance staff for as many as 15 additional people for video, photo, and social channels.
- Grew YouTube subscriptions by 80% in one year by implementing a regularly scheduled, high-quality content cadence, creating new, innovative, and creative formats from scratch, and optimizing and standardizing the look and feel of video and content on Edmunds.com.
- Increased Social Media engagement across Facebook (7.4% increase in likes per month), Twitter (5% increase in followers), YouTube (6.6% increase in duration), and Instagram (5% increase in followers) within the first 90 days, through the implementation of a smart growth strategy leveraging existing products and innovating around new ones.
- Managed development pipeline, equipment, studio, staff and track space as well as workflow for video, photo, and social media projects and products from initial outreach to greenlight.
- Sought out, evaluated, and developed original unscripted programming in collaboration with creators, partners, industry contacts, and internal partners to create native advertising opportunities for clients, great content for Edmunds consumers, and innovative video, photo, and social content for the Edmunds platforms.
CNN Business Sept. 2006 – June 2014
Senior Producer
Strategically build, develop, plan programming for, and manage online video content and digital video team for the Fortune/Money Group, including Fortune, Money Magazine, Fortune Small Business and CNNMoney. I manage a team of producers and create shareable, engaging, unique, and informative online content for users across multiple platforms including web, mobile, television, and print.
Major program results:
- Successfully created, built a programming plan for, launched, and currently sustain a self-contained online video channel for CNNMoney that covers everything from lifestyle topics (autos and luxury) to small business and personal finance, that integrates with CNN and Time Warner Corporation.
- Increased online video traffic by 500% in 1 year through program planning, creative storytelling, social, and SEO.
- Created, manage, and produce the most successful video series for CNNMoney: Unique Homes and Wheels together constitute more than half of all video starts on CNNMoney.
- Manage production staff, story development, show development, and budgets for CNNMoney video including a staff of 5-15 producers, both full time and freelance, around the world, to create cohesive digital content for multi-platform distribution.
- Create an editorial calendar and best practices for staff and promote cross-platform branding between online, magazines and CNN network properties.
- Coordinate with business units to create multi-platform, high-value branded digital content for video and written campaigns, including mobile and iPad content.
- Monitor and analyze web traffic using Chartbeat, Newsbeat, Heat Map, and Omniture.
- Strategize and innovate around proprietary content and content management tools, user interface, package presentation (including data visualization, site behavior, infographics, social media, and SEO) and user tools resulting in a more seamless newsroom and compelling user experience.
- Utilize and integrate social media tools (including but not limited to: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Foursquare, and Pinterest), and SEO tools to increase brand awareness and boost traffic to major packages and series.
- Pitch, research, and write original stories and galleries for CNNMoney, Eatocracy, CNN and Money Magazine.
Awards
- 2011 EPPY Award Best News Video for America’s Foreclosure Crisis.
- 2011 Henry Luce Award for Best Video for Foreclosure Crisis coverage.
- 2011 SABEW (Society of American Business Editors and Writers) Best in Business, Creative Use. across Platform award winner for Foreclosure Crisis coverage.
- 2011 Webby nomination for Ongoing News Coverage and Mash-up categories.
- 2010 Webby People’s Choice nomination for ongoing news coverage, CNNMoney Reports.
- minOnline’s 2010 Best of the Web award for best magazine-branded show, Assignment Detroit.
- Peabody Award as a part of CNN’s coverage of the 2008 Presidential Election.
- Token of Appreciation awarded from Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellowship Program.
- Selected as an expert to speak about online video to PRSA 2009.
Digital Video Producer Sept 2006 – Sept 2007
- Conceived, executed, and edited video content for the Web.
- Wrote, shot, and edited original content video packages using Sony EX-1, Final Cut Pro, and Pinnacle Blue, and used proprietary content management systems to post final video packages to CNNMoney.com and the network.
- Produced field shoots and acted as on-camera talent for video packages.
- Conceived, coordinated, field produced, and edited packages for air and online.
CNN Aug 2003 – Sept 2006
Editorial, Field, Segment Producer Aug. 2004 – Sept. 2006
- Pitched, booked, and managed two weekly and daily popular personal finance shows for CNN and CNNfn.
- Solicited, pre-interviewed, wrote in-depth reports, and coordinated appearances for business leaders, experts, celebrities, and government officials for both Open House and In the Money.
- Pitched, coordinated, wrote scripts for, and edited field pieces for each show.
- Line produced and wrote online content for daily personal finance hits called Gerri’s 5 Tips.
Awards
- Emmy Award as a part of the coverage of Hurricane Katrina.
CNN, Lou Dobbs Tonight Aug. 2003 – Aug. 2004
Editorial Producer
- Responsible for daily guest coordination, interviews, and research for Lou Dobbs Tonight.
- Solicited, interviewed, booked, and wrote report summations for Lou Dobbs on celebrities, government, business, world leaders, experts, and everyday people as guests for live set interviews, field appearances, and articles.
- Investigated, confirmed, fact-checked, wrote, and edited wire copy as well as breaking stories for air.
Awards
- Emmy as a part of Lou Dobbs Tonight coverage of illegal immigration
Additional Credits
- The Party Planner with David Tutera, Discovery Channel, Associate Producer May – Aug. 2003
- The Barbara Walters Specials, Academy Awards Special 2003, Associate Producer Jan. – April 2003
- The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2002 presented by Barbara Walters, Associate Producer Oct. – Dec.2002
- Love, Hate & Joy (pilot), ABC Family Channel, with Joy Behar, Associate Producer July – Aug. 2002
- The Gangs of New York Additional Photography, Miramax, Production Assistant May – June 2002
- Halloween 8, Reshoot, Miramax, Production Assistant April – May 2002
- The Barbara Walters Specials Academy Awards Special 2002, Associate Producer March – April 2002
- Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Valleycrest Productions, Executive Production Assistant, Jan. – March 2002
- Iyanla, Buena Vista Television, Production Assistant and Intern Coordinator June 2001 – Jan. 2002
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Communications and Media, University of Southern California