Dan Watson

514 S. Gramercy Pl., Apt. 9, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Phone: 530.409.6919 E-Mail: dan.watson@latimes.com
Online Portfolio: www.danwatsononline.com
B.A., Journalism, Cal Poly, SLO; M.A., Online Journalism, USC

Media background
Digital Editor Full-time

Feb. 2014 Current

Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, Calif.

As homepage producer, determine which stories to showcase on LATimes.com and the mobile app. Rewrite
headlines, select art, design daily special sections highlighting big news events. Build photo, video and story
galleries. Provide technical assistance to newsroom.
Monitor breaking news, helping notify sections. Write and send breaking email alerts, push notifications, tweets,
etc. Post to Times social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Evangelize social media to
rest of newsroom.
Help compile morning newsroom budget, highlighting items of interest.
Monitor real-time analytics (Chartbeat) to determine story placement, story page builds, site design tweaks. Also
study long-term Omniture metrics.
For overnight shifts, assign, edit and post stories from foreign and national correspondents. Occasionally write
local posts.
Assisted in the 2014 site redesign that won the Online News Associations top award (General Excellence) and
launch of the live blog.
Executive Editor Full-time

Aug. 2012 Nov. 2013

West Hollywood Media Company (WEHOville.com) West Hollywood, Calif.

As co-creator, conceived name, voice, mission, features, sections and design for online publication covering the
city of West Hollywood. Built freelance reporter/photo staff. Assigned, edited, wrote and published stories.
Launched WEHOville.com in one month (September 2012).
In November, two months after launch, the site had 35,000 monthly pageviews, equaling the average of the two
competing "hyperlocal" news sites that had operated for years. October 2013 pageviews were 92,000.
As editor, managed a number of freelancers, including an editor-at-large, two part-time photographers, political
reporter, food critic, architect critic, music critic, calendar editor and a number of others. Frequently wrote articles
on all subjects. For nearly a year, was company's only full-time employee.
Aggressively built Facebook "likes" to more than 3,300 through story promotion, contests, social media button
placement and instruction of "marketing director." Using similar tactics, built Twitter feed to more than 1,000
followers. Created Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram and Google+ accounts.
Created "DailyFix" e-mail newsletter and built subscribers to nearly 1,000.
Created "gTV" directory, which has since become the web's definitive guide for gay web series.
Associate Producer Part-time

July 2012 Aug. 2012

Los Angeles Times

With small team, created augmented reality app for Olympics. Readers could hover their phones over photos in the
newspaper to view multimedia content that included photo galleries and videos.
Editor-in-Chief Full-time

Sept. 2011 May 2012

Neontommy.com
Was in charge of the nations most widely trafficked online college news site. Oversaw an editorial board of more
than 40 editors, and an entire staff of nearly 100.
Instituted first daily budget system in publication history, including daily budget meetings using Google Hangout.

Built the publications first graphics and photo department; created first policy handbook.
Set all-time traffic records: more than 1 million pageviews in the first semester, spanning 120 countries.
Led surge in Facebook likes and Twitter followers to nearly 4,000 apiece; directed four Tumblr sites.
Effectively built staff of 20 executive producers for near-24/7 web aggregation.
Received "Director's Award for Excellence" (USC's top honor in journalism) (2012)
Assistant Sports Editor Full-time

Nov. 2006 Aug. 2010

Lee Central Coast Newspapers Santa Maria, California

Led a team of seven, overseeing production of five sports sections. Laid out multiple sections daily. Wrote stories,
hosted a video sports show, tweeted about completed first marathon, awarded Sports story of year in California.
Editor-in-Chief Full-time

June 2005 June 2006

Mustang Daily San Luis Obispo, California (College newspaper)

Supervised only completely student-run college newspaper in the nation. Managed 14 editors and 19 reporters.
Launched new website. Shortly after its launch, it was named best college newspaper website in the nation (ACP).

Professional development
One of six winners of prestigious News21 fellowship, covering the 2012 presidential campaign for the Guardian
(London, UK). Story online. (May 2012- July 2012).
Freelance work has appeared in the Sac Bee, Orange County Register, KCET and Columbia Journalism Review.
Part-time jobs have included work at the Mountain Democrat (2001-2002), San Luis Obispo Tribune (2002-2003),
CBS-owned Maxpreps.com (2004) and Davis Enterprise (2006). Interned at UK current affairs magazine Prospect.

Online portfolio: www.danwatsononline.com