Colleen McCain Nelson
Sacramento,CA
Summary
I'm an innovative, collaborative news leader and a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with a track record of growing readership, embracing experimentation and elevating newsrooms' journalism.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Editor / Regional Editor for California
The Sacramento Bee - McClatchy
01.2021 - Current
- Led McClatchy's five California newsrooms — The Sacramento Bee, The Fresno Bee, The Modesto Bee, the San Luis Obispo Tribune and the Merced Sun-Star — with a focus on reaching new audiences through innovative digital strategies and delivering high-impact journalism
- Exceeded audience goals and increased readership — the result of improved accountability and enterprise reporting, a commitment to high-utility stories that serve readers and a passion for experimenting with purpose
National Opinion Editor
McClatchy
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Developed a comprehensive strategy for expanding our audience and driving digital subscriptions with hyperlocal, deeply reported editorials and column
- Worked with opinion editors across the company to boost the metabolism of our editorial boards and ensure that they were moving at the speed of news
- Used analytics to establish digital-first best practices for opinion writing, eliminating outdated approaches and freeing up time to do more essential journalism that effects change and engages readers
Vice President and Editorial Page Editor
The Kansas City Star
12.2016 - 01.2021
- Rebuilt the editorial board from the ground up, recruiting and hiring a team of opinion writers who won numerous national awards and were honored three times as finalists for the Pulitzer Prize
- Overhauled The Star's opinion strategy and rapidly increased readership by focusing exclusively on timely, unique local editorials and columns
- Shaped The Star's institutional voice on key issues and led the newspaper's community engagement efforts
White House Correspondent
The Wall Street Journal
12.2012 - 12.2016
- Covered President Barack Obama's administration, examining the details of his domestic and foreign policy agendas and writing about the political environment in his second term
- Covered the 2016 presidential election, hitting the campaign trail with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump
National Political Reporter
The Wall Street Journal
02.2012 - 12.2012
- Wrote about the 2012 presidential election, traveling with Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and covering the national political conventions
Editorial Columnist
The Dallas Morning News
08.2011 - 02.2012
- Wrote a reported political column and helped forge the newspaper's editorial positions on public policy issues
- Wrote editorials and opinion essays, and frequently represented the editorial board in the community
Editorial Board Member
The Dallas Morning News
05.2006 - 08.2011
- Wrote editorials about a wide range of public policy issues and was the lead writer for several major projects
- Received the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing in 2010 with two colleagues, recognition for an in-depth series of editorials that revealed and condemned the stark economic and social inequities separating Dallas' thriving northern half and struggling southern half
Reporter
The Dallas Morning News
06.2000 - 05.2006
- Covered local, state and national politics in a variety of roles
- Wrote about campaigns, public policy and government, starting at Dallas City Hall and then moving to Texas politics and later national politics
- Previously wrote enterprise stories about trends in education
Reporter
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
09.1998 - 06.2000
- Covered local and state government
Reporter
The Wichita Eagle
01.1997 - 09.1998
- Covered the Kansas Legislature and the governor's race
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KSHonors and service
- Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing
- Pulitzer juror for commentary and editorial writing
- Member of the University of Kansas Women's Hall of Fame
- Member of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Steering Committee
- Member of the California News Publishers Association Board of Directors
- William Allen White Foundation Trustee
- Fellow at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas
- Winner of the Eleanor McClatchy award
- Recipient of the Distinguished Kansan award from the Topeka Capital-Journal
Timeline
Executive Editor / Regional Editor for California
The Sacramento Bee - McClatchy
01.2021 - Current
National Opinion Editor
McClatchy
01.2018 - 01.2021
Vice President and Editorial Page Editor
The Kansas City Star
12.2016 - 01.2021
White House Correspondent
The Wall Street Journal
12.2012 - 12.2016
National Political Reporter
The Wall Street Journal
02.2012 - 12.2012
Editorial Columnist
The Dallas Morning News
08.2011 - 02.2012
Editorial Board Member
The Dallas Morning News
05.2006 - 08.2011
Reporter
The Dallas Morning News
06.2000 - 05.2006
Reporter
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
09.1998 - 06.2000
Reporter
The Wichita Eagle
01.1997 - 09.1998
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
University of Kansas
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