Rachel Lobdell

Photo by Sophie Mathewson

I am a media executive who drives revenue through editorial strategies that grow audiences by connecting them to content, products, and experiences that help them live their best lives. I believe the future of news lies in building meaningful consumer habits, and, ultimately, community.

I have a proven track record of creating ambitious editorial strategies that meet audience needs; launching projects, products and teams; and getting internal buy-in to try new things. I’m known for collaborating with divisions around the company to ensure we’re aligned on meeting goals and exploring where we can maximize impact. I’m an operational problem solving whiz. I like to run toward tricky problems and will raise my hand for whatever opportunity comes next.

I have previously worked as the transformation chief at Gannett, the editorial director at FORTUNE, the managing editor at VICE, a strategist at the Wall Street Journal, and at Fusion, the Sun Sentinel, the Los Angeles Times, and the Huntsville Times.

Specializing in digital innovation, content strategy, and organizational change, I consult with media brands, consumer companies, and nonprofits seeking audience, revenue, and brand growth. I advise senior leaders on their business strategies and help teams embrace experimentation, work collaboratively, and bring new products to market. My services include:

I frequently speak and write on the state of journalism, leadership, and newsroom culture. I have a weekly newsletter. I was a member of the 2023 Online News Association Executive Women Leaders Salon and 2016 ONA-Poynter Leadership Academy for Women in Digital Media class.

I block out time on Fridays to mentor women and people of color in journalism. Want more? Check out my coaching packages.

I read a lot of books.

Get in touch at rachel.b.lobdell@gmail.com.

Writing

The voter is the VIP | Nieman Lab

How a high-risk pregnancy shifted my perspective on work | FORTUNE

The value of push alerts goes beyond open rates | Nieman Lab

The stakes are higher for women in charge of safety | Poynter

Raise your hand if you're new here | Poynter

A guide for managers on navigating performance reviews | Poynter

Know when to leave your job | Poynter

The state of fertility benefits across the journalism industry | Poynter

An editor's guide to creating an online portfolio | Poynter

Nearly three years later, a WDBJ anchor shares how her newsroom survived tragedy | Poynter

Women in public-facing journalism jobs are exhausted by harassment | Poynter

Finding a personal style at work is full of roadblocks for women | Poynter

Helping junior colleagues lead can help you grow as a manager | Poynter

Why volunteering for opportunities at work is critical for women | Poynter

Better design helps differentiate opinion and news | Nieman Lab

Women feel the emotional weight of telling our stories | Society of Professional Journalists

When hiring isn’t hell, it looks like this | Source

Stop flying over the flyover states | Nieman Lab

An open letter to newsroom hiring managers | Source

Good code runs on good communication | Source

Journalism needs better skills training | Source

Why designers travel | Society of News Design

Speaking

ONA Women's Leadership Accelerator 2023: Served as guest faculty lecturing on exploring perfectionism and providing career coaching

Women In Journalism 2019: Professional development & career growth

ONA St. Louis 2018: Professional development & brand building

SRCCON 2018: Reflecting on how the media covers itself

NICAR 2017: How to make data approachable for younger audiences

Bonnier Digital Forum 2016; Stockholm, Sweden: Interactive journalism and new formats workshop

NICAR 2016: Co-facilitated the mentorship roundtable

SRCCON 2015: How to manage interactive projects when you're a team of one

Press

Why are job interviews getting so complicated? | NPR's Marketplace

Earn while you learn: VICE pays US journalism students for pitching mental health stories | Journalism UK

A Q&A with SRCCON:POWER speaker Rachel Schallom | Source