Ray Marcano

Digital Strategy

Ray Marcano

Former director of digital strategy for Cox Media Group.

Ray Marcano is an award-winning journalist, writer, editor, and digital strategist with a wealth of both traditional and digital media experience. He worked at Cox Media Group for 30 years, where he devised and implemented digital strategy for all of Cox Ohio’s 14 websites and wrote digital reader strategy (e-readers, tablets, etc.) for Cox Media Group’s digital division. As a writer and editor, he has written and edited on topics such as news, finance, B2B, long-form journalism, sports, autos, breaking news, and travel for clients like CNN and Southern Poverty Law Center. Ray is also the former National President of the Society of Professional Journalist, a two-time Pulitzer juror, and a Fulbright Fellow.

Digital StrategyDigital MediaJournalismWritingEditorial WritingDigital ContentCopywritingSEO ContentSocial Media StrategyBusiness DevelopmentMobile StrategyDigital Growth StrategyNews WritingWeb Content ManagementContent DevelopmentMedia RelationsAP StyleBusiness Strategy

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Employment Highlights

Writer, Editor, & Digital Strategist

Independent

May 2014 - Present (11 years 11 months)

Senior Director, Digital Audience Growth

Cox Media Group

August 2013 - May 2014 (9 months)

Director of Digital Content & Mobile Integration

Cox Media Group

June 2011 - August 2013 (2 years 2 months)

Director of Digital Strategy & Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives

Cox Media Group

January 2009 - June 2011 (2 years 5 months)

Internet General Manager

Cox Ohio Publishing

March 2006 - January 2010 (3 years 10 months)

Education Highlights

MBA, -

Baker College, Flint, Michigan

September 2002 - June 2004 (1 year 9 months)

Portfolio

Resume

Writer, Editor, & Digital Strategist

Independent

May 2014 - Present (11 years 11 months)

  • Served as assignment editor/producer at CNN and senior editor for the Southern Poverty Law Center, one of the country’s top civil rights organizations.
  • Managed startup websites, hired and managed freelance staff, ran social media campaigns, and edited copy with an eye toward SEO keywords.
  • Developed business plans that resulted in a 200% YoY traffic increase and increased revenue for a startup website.
  • Wrote or edited topics including news, finance, B2B, long-form journalism, sports, autos, breaking news, resumes, travel, resumes, and more.
  • Wrote a story that was named one of the 10 best over the last 10 years at Faith and Leadership magazine.

Senior Director, Digital Audience Growth

Cox Media Group

August 2013 - May 2014 (9 months)

  • Oversaw a team that produced and aggregated content to drive audience across all 85 Cox Media Group properties.
  • Cut third party deals to maximize audience and revenue.
  • Implemented/trained Cox Media Group properties on decision analytic tools.

Director of Digital Content & Mobile Integration

Cox Media Group

June 2011 - August 2013 (2 years 2 months)

  • Oversaw the development of nearly five-dozen phone and tablet applications for the 17 news properties in CMG.
  • Selected the vendors, negotiated the contracts, navigated the various application store rules, and ensured products were delivered in a timely manner.
  • Followed market trends to advise the properties on digital issues and oversaw special projects as assigned.

Director of Digital Strategy & Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives

Cox Media Group

January 2009 - June 2011 (2 years 5 months)

  • Handled responsibilities for Cox Media Group and Cox Media Group Digital.
  • Devised and implemented digital strategy for all of Cox Ohio’s 14 websites, including solutions for content sharing among radio, television and newspapers; analyzed products that could be used across all media; and created a plan to further cement our leadership in local breaking news.
  • Wrote digital reader strategy (e-readers, tablets, etc.) for Cox Media Group’s digital division, and negotiated deals with e-reader and tablet manufacturers for Cox content.

Internet General Manager

Cox Ohio Publishing

March 2006 - January 2010 (3 years 10 months)

  • Oversaw the Cox Ohio internet business, including new business, strategic planning, vendor relations, and technical development.
  • Accomplishments: revenue nearly doubled between 2006 and 2008; audience increased more than 50% YoY; Ohio was the only major metro in the Cox chain to post a profit in its digital operations; redesigned the main e-paper site and drew national acclaim for ease of use; technological innovations were an industry-wide leader and garnered national awards.

Education

MBA, -

Baker College, Flint, Michigan

September 2002 - June 2004 (1 year 9 months)