Strategist Tara Jones, a nationally-recognized digital content leader, joins David Arkin Consulting

Tara Jones, a nationally award-winning digital journalist, has joined David Arkin Consulting to help support the company’s growth.

Jones, who most recently was the managing editor for a group of newspapers in the Madison, Wisc., area, has teamed up with David Arkin in the past, as the two helped launch a digital-only website in Wisconsin that was recognized nationally for its innovative approach to storytelling.

Here is a little bit about Jones and the work she will be doing:

Tell us a bit about your background

I am an Ohio native turned Wisconsin lover, where I now live along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Since graduating with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism from Bowling Green State University, in Ohio, journalism and storytelling has been my passion. I began my career as a sports and entertainment reporter and now have experience launching a digital-only website from scratch and serving as the leader of several newsrooms.

The industry is going through a significant shift, and I believe it’s more important than ever to focus on journalism that is impactful, ethical and helpful. I’m very committed to moving the industry forward and finding solutions for the future of local media.

In my free time, there’s nothing I love more than going to live concerts and sporting events and taking trips with my family and friends.

What experience do you have in the industry?

After working as a reporter in several different newsrooms, I moved to Wisconsin in the fall of 2020 to help launch a new digital news website. I worked with our team to create a hyper-local content plan with a digital-forward focus.

Within a year after launching the site, the site averaged 200,000 monthly pageviews and received an honorable mention in Editor & Publisher magazine’s 10 That Do It Right awards in 2021. The site also earned second place in Best Digital Audience Growth Strategy and third place in Best Social Media and Engagement Strategy in Local Media Association’s 2020 awards.

After the successful launch of that website, I became the editor of four other weekly publications in the Madison area. Now, I’m taking all of that experience combined and doing what I love most — working with a variety of publications, businesses and organizations to find effective ways to tell their stories in an era where media and consumers are ever changing.

What is your favorite thing about working in digital media?

One of the things that makes digital media great is that you can connect your audience with important information in a quick and engaging way. I have a real passion for ensuring local audiences continue to get access to quality content through platforms and delivery that are sure to continue to change. I know that change is constant, and it’s one of the things I love most about doing this kind of work. Helping companies through that change is hard, but it’s absolutely rewarding.

What are you looking forward to most working with clients?

In this role, I’ll be working with clients throughout the country and helping newspapers, TV stations, magazines and digital pure plays in a variety of ways. The work we’re doing is so diverse because we’re working with so many companies in so many different areas, which I love. I’ll be helping develop content and business plans for new products, creating content for newsrooms, providing training in areas that can boost a news organization’s audience quickly and even offering copy editing support as needed.

Together, David and I worked on building out a plan and strategy that went on to win national awards. We have the same understanding of what makes digital content great, and we bring together a wide range of skill sets. Now, we can work together again to bring that talent and motivation to media companies and brands throughout the country, giving me the chance to make an even further impact on the field I love.

Want to hear more about the services we can offer? Email Tara Jones at tara@davidarkinconsulting.com.