Ken Riddick

Career highlights

 Vita.mn

As an Internet executive, I have attempted to display a versatility that has allowed me to excel among my peers in high-profile digital arenas.

I have earned formal, and informal, recognition for my leadership in award-winning digital news reports, e-commerce sites and site design. I enjoy the respect of my peers for my digital innovation and strategic vision.

Among the achievements for which I have played a leadership role are the following:

I have been a leader in the field. I was the last president of the Digital Media Council for the Newspaper Association of America and a frequent contributor to the formal dialogue about these emerging platforms, speaking to businesses, universities and peer groups.

Teams under my leadership have won numerous awards and other recognition for revenue and audience strategies.

My other media experience has been varied and valuable. In addition to my roles within Interactive Media, I have been a photojournalist and picture editor at newspapers nationwide and I have operated my own commercial photography business.

As vice president of Digital Media for Hearst Newspapers and senior vice president for Interactive Media at The StarTribune in Minneapolis, I haves led large creative teams of award-winning technical and business development staffs, the sales force and interactive journalists. I moved into Web publishing as online managing editor at The Fresno Bee in Central California in 1999.

I am a recognized creative leader and change agent who encourages creativity, high standards and thoughtful risk-taking among his staff.

Personal favorites
     Tripled revenues at StarTribune.com

     Through innovative product development and rapid execution, my team quickly accelerated revenues in strategically important categories, positioning StarTribune.com for some of the coming challenges in the marketplace and creating high-margin products that improved the bottom line.

     Built strategic partnerships working across media:
    I planned, negotiated and executed two cross-media partnerships with local television stations in Fresno, California, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

     Recruiting and mentoring:
    I have built high-functioning, innovative teams at each of his career stops.     

Business strategies

     2007 NAA Edgie award winner for Best Local Shopping and Directory Strategy:
    StarTribune's ShopMinnesota.com site had been the only winner in this circulation category for the two years this prize had been awarded. According to then-president of the Digital Media Federation, "in the 250,000 and up circulation category, the judges this year bypassed the finalists stage, promoting one great entry to winner status." The judges commented that "the Pets Marketplace section has shown that it is possible to bring together like-minded people and e-commerce."  

     2006 NAA Edgie award winner for Best Local Shopping and Directory Strategy:
    One comment from the judges: "In the nascent but fast-developing area of local shopping, the StarTribune's ShopMinnesota understands the right formula for pleasing advertisers and site visitors who are looking for deals and products. Other publishers should take note of the site's relationship with a statewide retail association." 

     2004 Editor & Publisher's EPpy award winner for Best Internet Shopping Service.         

Digital journalism and site design

 Vida En El Valle
    2007 NAA Edgie Award
    Best Local Guide and Entertainment site for Vita.mn
    With the goal of telling the audience the "coolest" things to do in the Twin Cities, the team created a site that allowed readers to provide that answer. The service combined social networking and Web site visitor recommendations with an extensive arts and entertainment database. Social media tools such as user tagging, reviews, lists and guides flesh out the skeleton of highly relevant events listing tools. 

     2007 EPpy Award 
    (Tie) Best Special Feature in a Web Site (News or Event, more than 1 million unique monthly visitors):
    "A People Torn."     was a rich multimedia report, including video and audio slide shows that reported on the fascinating stories of Liberians who fled civil war in Africa and found a home in Minnesota.

     McClatchy Company President's Awards
    2002: Online edition of "Last Gasp." The project focused on the Central San Joaquin Valley's poor air quality and the complicated issues surrounding health, cleanup and politics. The awards were given twice a year to recognize the best journalism at McClatchy newspapers nationwide.

    2000: "A Madness Called Meth." Both the digital and print versions were honored.

     2001 NAA Edgie Award
    Public service:     The online edition of "A Madness Called Meth" took an in-depth look at the booming methamphetamine trade, its growing number of users and the increased stress on social services. It utilized online crime databases to allow users to map the arrests and lab sites based on their own locations. This project was a collaborative effort among the three California Bee newspapers.  
     2001 Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award: The print and online versions of "A Madness Called Meth" were recognized. This award is "presented annually to journalists who during the previous year have demonstrated the highest standards of reporting on drug issues."        

Design downloaded from free website templates.