Columbia University - Graduate School of Journalism

Georgetown University

University of Iowa

Managing Editor at National Geographic

I manage four teams who collaborate to create and optimize digital content for owned-and-operated, third-party and social media platforms. 

Under my leadership, the digital content team ideates, edits and publishes data-driven storytelling that's native to digital platforms and maximizes subscription and email acquisition; the editorial newsletter team produces a suite of 10+ audience-specific weekly sends; the video team produces unique content from the field and prioritizes vertical video for social media platforms; and the digital engagement team oversees Nat Geo’s e-commerce content for sponsorships and affiliate revenue, which includes production and promotion across YouTube and Instagram.

National Geographic

Vice President, Head of Digital and Video

Managed digital content distribution for maximum reach and engagement while working between editorial, product, technology, rights and legal teams, and the editorial directors in each of National Geographic's regions around the world, to localize and publish digital content at scale for the ongoing expansion of National Geographic’s global network. 

Interacted with NGP’s largest distribution platforms such as MSN, Apple, and FlipBoard, driving the NGP editorial and consumer experiences on those sites to ensure high-ROI digital promotion for the magazine, the Channel, and direct-to-consumer products.

Partnered across NGP’s internal partners such as Expeditions, the National Geographic Store, Nat Geo Books, the National Geographic Magazine, and the Nat Geo Channel to ensure digital promotion across NationalGeographic.com and local sites around the world.  

Led video operations team that is responsible for managing the video systems and asset delivery for publishing across domestic and global platforms.

Vice President, Digital Global Content Operations

Led a team of producers owning site-wide presentation and digital storytelling optimization alongside design and UI/UX teams working in an Agile environment. Managed  the planning and publishing for Apple News, MSN, and other large & highly-visible partners to ensure consistent quality of content, measures performance, and adjusts strategy to optimize for the platform.

Senior Director of Digital Programming

Managed newsroom operations and digital strategies for free, subscriber and membership audiences of National Journal. Led editorial product development working in an Agile environment, built-if-sold special reports and long-term pillar programs. Was responsible for editorial coordination with membership, marketing, advertising, research and live events teams.

Atlantic Media

Director of Digital News Operations, National Journal

Hired team of digital producers, video producers and a social media editor to cover the 2012 presidential debates, conventions and election. Directed breaking news coverage and managed editorial assignments. Was editorial lead for an overhaul of nationaljournal.com, which increased traffic more than 600 percent, using metrics and analytics to inform content strategy and content development.

Executive Digital Editor, National Journal

Built a free and subscriber web experience from ground up after implementing a new content management system. Instituted content strategy and digital best practices for an under-performing newsroom, including the weekly magazine and daily print teams, quadrupling traffic from 600,000 uniques to 2.4M in a year. Arranged partnerships with media companies and aggregators, and accelerated social media growth with metrics-driven strategies.

Served as acting digital editor from October 2011 through the 2012 presidential election to May 2013.

Assistant Digital Editor and Product Development Lead, National Journal

Managed 10 producers and 89 hyperlocal Web sites. Responsible for revamping network of sites, social media strategy, site metrics, cross-platform editorial production and team culture.

Chicago Tribune

Deputy Digital Editor, TribLocal

Produced local breaking news for Chicago’s largest online audience. Introduced and managed user-generated content and hyperlocal initiatives for chicagotribune.com.

Digital News Editor, chicagotribune.com

Produced multimedia packages including a report on “America at 300 Million” for msnbc.com’s innovation team.

MSNBC

Interactive Fellow

Taught "Writing for Mass Communication," an introductory online journalism course for undergraduates at AU's School of Communications. (Aug 2004 – Aug 2005)

Other teaching experience: 

DePaul University: Taught undergraduate course "Online Journalism II" which covered the front and back end of digital writing and site production. (Jan 2010 – June 2010)

Northwestern University (Medill School of Journalism): Advised News21.org, a Knight Foundation initiative, for multimedia practice and production. Taught two sections of Interactive Techniques, an undergraduate introductory course to digital media. (June 2008 – Aug 2009)

Internews Nigeria: Created multimedia training for journalists at 12 newspapers in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. (May 2005)

American University

Adjunct professor

Packaged breaking news for 24-7 site and managed site’s homepage and channel pages. In-depth multimedia coverage included 9/11, the Iraq war, and the 2004 presidential campaign and election.

USA TODAY

Assistant Online News Director

Created the non-profit's first digital newsletter, which is sent out to hundreds of thousands alumni worldwide. Managed tfas.org and other marketing materials. 

I currently serve as the Communications Chairman for the Alumni Council Executive Board.

Alissa Swango