Elsa Knox Butler

Results oriented media professional with a diverse background and expertise in technology, sports, travel and arts/culture writing. Experience ranges from large multinational firms to small dailies. Measurable results include: increased online readership of local newspaper, expanded circulation of regional magazine and grew global news coverage of four Fortune 500 companies in diverse industries.

Professional Experience

Contributing Writer, Flavorpill Networks, San Francisco, California
Aug. ’06 - July 1, ‘07

• Wrote for international webzine, profiled in a New York Times Magazine piece highlighting quality of content
• Responsible for pitching and writing assignments about cultural events including lectures, music and dance performances

Senior Account Executive, Bite Communications San Francisco , California
Oct. ’05 - July 1, ‘07

• Drove coverage for Sun Microsystems’ Eco Responsibility Initiative, achieved cum. media signal of 441 million in FY06
• Organized media events and forums in which to discuss technology trends and clients’ product solutions resulting in coverage in top tier business publications such as The Wall Street Journal, TheNew York Times, CNET and Reuters.
• Placed front page profile of AMD’s CEO in the Los Angeles Times, bylined Sun VP perspective piece in CNET, Eco-computing Q&A in The Boston Globe and product announcements in numerous technology trade publications

Contributing Writer, Marin Independent Journal San Francisco, California
Jan. ’05 - July 1, ‘07

• Wrote front page Lifestyle features and reviews of jazz, indie rock, hip-hop and world music in San Francisco and Marin
• Responsible for developing stories and covering events with youth appeal to grow readership in new demographic
• Wrote feature piece on local band, Blame Sally, that increased ticket sales by 70% and overall newspaper sales

Editorial Intern, San Francisco magazine San Francisco, California
Jan. ’04 – Apr. ‘04

• Worked closely with editorial team in developing magazine projects. Contributed to expanding the Style section, resulting in 10% circulation increase. Pitched stories, conducted fact-checking, organized database of profiles for social column

Press Officer/French Translator, Team Alinghi, America’s Cup Regatta Winner, Auckland, New Zealand
Oct.’02 - Nov. ’03

• Generated international media coverage of Swiss sailing team and its sponsor, UBS, in The New York Times, Reuters, Time magazine, TheWashington Post, the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian, ESPN and the Outdoor Life Network
• Contributed website content and achieved 3 million unique visitors during the event and 100,000 unique visitors per day

Contributing Writer, Condé Nast Traveler San Francisco, California
Sept. ’01 - Apr ‘02

• Responsible for contributing ideas for Q&A column. Researched and wrote travel brief on crime rates in Rio de Janeiro
• Pitched, researched and wrote travel brief on shark cage diving in Cape Town, South Africa, published April 2002

Communications Director , Tyco International – Team Tyco Southampton, England
June ’01 - Oct. ‘02

• Organized press conferences and briefings in England, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Europe for professional sailing team competing in the Volvo Ocean Race. Increased global brand recognition for Tyco International
• Oversaw sailing team website, developed fresh content. Managed emails, blogs, audio/video clips and over 2000 images
• Established strong relationships with leading journalists. Wrote press releases on deadline for international distribution

Editorial Assistant , French Reuters Paris, France
May ’00 - Sept.’00

• Assisted correspondent covering Tour Voile regatta by conducting and transcribing Italian, French and English interviews
• Developed and wrote profiles, news briefs and race reports as Contributing Editor for the sports news site, Quokka Sports

Education

• Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism, New York, New York
  M.S. New Media – Degree to be conferred in May 2008

• Colorado College Colorado Springs, Colorado
  B.A. English and Creative Writing – Dean’s List: 1995-1998
  Sept.’94 - May ‘98

Awards

• Awarded Women’s International Leadership Program Grant at International House for 2007-2008 academic year
• Awarded Reville Prize for Short Fiction, Colorado College

Additional Qualifications

• Volunteered on Programming Board for Inforum, a division of the Commonwealth Club, Dec. ’03 to July ‘07
• Covered breaking news including student protests, racial profiling and business/technology stories as Staff Reporter at the Marin Independent Journal. Wrote weekly columns focusing on local sports news and community volunteers
• Crafted story board, researched and wrote proposal at Winton/DuPont Films for National Geographic travel documentary
• Fluent in spoken and written French and Italian