Evan Benn

About Evan Benn

I’ve spent 15+ years telling stories that matter, whether that’s uncovering a wrongful conviction, spotlighting rising chefs, or helping executives articulate their vision. I’m a journalist at heart, editor by trade, and communicator by instinct.My career began with a front-page byline at 14 and has taken me from the newsroom to the C-suite — building brands, mentoring writers, and always looking for the next great story to tell.What drives me? Curiosity, clarity, and a belief that storytelling still cuts through. In a time when trust is fragile and attention is scarce, I’ve found purpose in crafting messages that inform, inspire, and resonate. I’ve led award-winning magazines, built communications strategies from scratch, and helped legacy institutions find their voice in a noisy world.Career highlights include:* Landing that first front-page article in high school—and writing thousands more since* Helping uncover a wrongful conviction man through investigative reporting* Writing a book on the rise of craft beer * Launching a citywide food awards program that celebrated Miami’s culinary talent* Serving as Esquire’s beer writer and the Miami Herald’s food editor* Leading a luxury lifestyle magazine as EIC, where we championed Miami\'s culture, diversity, and philanthropyToday, I work at the intersection of journalism, communications, and strategy, advising organizations on how to be clear, credible, and compelling in what they say and how they show up.Always open to good conversation, big ideas, and new collaborations. Let’s connect.

Experience

1. Senior Director of Special Projects and Communications

   The Philadelphia Inquirer

   Apr 2022 — Present · Philadelphia, PA, US

   I work directly with the Executive Editor and collaborate closely with the Publisher and CEO to lead high-impact editorial initiatives and communication strategies that bridge the newsroom and business sides of the organization.• Lead editor and strategist behind Sunday Specials — a monthly series of themed print magazines that debuted in 2025 and have become a signature franchise for the company, driving audience engagement and cross-department collaboration. Reader survey results show the Sunday Specials have extremely high satisfaction rates, and subscribers overwhelmingly say the monthly magazines add value to their subscriptions. • Serve as a trusted voice for executive leadership, crafting press statements, media responses, social media content, and internal communications that reflect clarity, credibility, and strategic intent.• Prepare the CEO and newsroom talent for interviews and speaking opportunities, ensuring consistent, compelling messaging across platforms.• Drive communications strategy company-wide, from internal updates to external press releases — including a brand campaign that earned national coverage in Adweek and Axios and awards from INMA and the ADDYs.• Partner with marketing and product teams to align editorial vision with audience growth strategies and campaign rollouts.• Oversee special editorial and branded content projects that merge creative direction with multi-platform planning to elevate brand visibility.• Manage crisis communications, including a major cybersecurity breach, keeping journalists, readers, and stakeholders informed with timely, accurate, and legally sound messaging.

Education

• Northwestern University

  Bachelor of Science, Journalism

Skills

• Headline Writing
• Food Trends
• Beer Blogging
• Breaking News
• Photography
• Columns
• Newspaper Design
• Restaurants
• Editing
• Food News
• News Writing
• Freelance Writing
• Newspapers
• Facebook
• Copy Editing
• Cooking
• Feature Articles
• Travel
• Blogging
• Weather News
• Magazines
• Proofreading
• Online Journalism
• Writing
• Investigative Reporting
• Column Writing
• Restaurant News
• Web Content
• Social Media
• Ap Style
• Social Media Marketing
• Video
• Publications
• Tutoring
• Beer Writing
• Editorial
• Food Criticism
• Newspaper
• Reporting
• Food Writing