Peter McConnell

Background

About Peter McConnell

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:* Awarded a Green Jacket - the equivalent of a green jacket for winning the Masters in golf - for excellence in my role as director of communications at The Varnett Public School district in Houston.* Launched school district website, Post written and visual updates with the urgency of a breaking news story. The website for the 1,600-student district has recorded more than 2 million page views worldwide since its debut in March 2010.* Increased profile of the district through positive print, web and broadcast coverage locally and nationally.* Wrote the district's social media guidelines for teachers and other staff. Guidelines adopted as policy by the Superintendent and the School Board.* A key editor in directing and editing the coverage of Hurricane Ike and its aftermath, resulting in the Houston Chronicle being named a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize in the breaking news category. Posted online updates multiple times a day.* Directed and assigned as second-in-command news coverage of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Edited breaking news stories and minute-by-minute developments under deadline and competitive pressure.* Demonstrated skills outside the workplace in mentoring 20 high school students and helping them produce an online newspaper for a national audience. Content focused on new media strategies and new trends in presidential politics.* Appointed from a staff of 200 to direct a company-wide content audit of a metropolitan daily newspaper to determine the diversity of coverage. Created the opportunity to expand the newspaper's source and contact list after audit revealed women were under-represented 2:1 compared to men in news and feature stories.* Challenged and guided reporters to produce stories that caused community discussion for change. Conducted goal-oriented, annual performance evaluations that resulted in the production of more Page One stories. Specialties: Internal and external communications; research; writing and editing; story telling; jazz blogging, and extensive newspaper reporting and managerial experience. Thrives under deadline pressure.