Scott W.

I secure earned (not paid) press, industry recognition, thought leadership opportunities and strategic visibility that drive business growth. With 11 years of experience at top PR agencies, including DKC, High10 Media and Jonesworks, and in independent consulting, I combine agency-level strategy with creative, hands-on media execution. I move beyond traditional PR to secure earned press that drives growth, generates new business and expands your audience reach. Let’s define what success looks like for you, and I will build the media and narrative framework to help you reach it. I have led communications work across media, tech, entertainment, music, AI, VR, publishing, politics, advertising, philanthropy and emerging industries. I have worked with startups, founders, global brands, agencies and public figures operating at local, regional, national and global scales. WHAT I BRING TO YOUR TEAM ▪ PROVEN PR IMPACT: My background includes executing crisis PR strategy for Scooter Braun during his Big Machine Records acquisition and public feud with Taylor Swift; supporting the launch of Grid News, which generated more than 1 billion media impressions with features across CNN, The New York Times, Axios, Politico and Reuters; guiding public relations for Lonely Planet’s global digital rebrand, which surpassed pre-pandemic sales; implementing a comprehensive one-year PR push for Zac Brown Band covering an album release, three national stadium tours and award lobbying; driving more than 750,000 views and national press for Deaf Film Camp’s ASL "Home" music video; and securing Fast Company Innovation by Design and Best Workplaces recognition for Upstatement, among countless other wins. I have consistently delivered strong results for a diverse portfolio of clients, including Bloomberg News, Adweek, Medium, The Arena Group, Den of Thieves, Madison Wells Media, LDJ Productions, A+E Networks and numerous emerging startups and agencies. ▪ STRATEGIC NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT: I turn technical or abstract ideas and complex data into clear, high-impact stories that resonate with the press, stakeholders and target audiences. ▪ THE PR OPPORTUNITIES YOU NEED: I specialize in the "hidden" side of PR: award strategy and submissions, executive speaking placements, thought leadership and trade visibility, university press, partnership opportunities and organization membership recommendations that define your market status. ▪ WRITING & EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE: Whether it is a bylined op-ed, a press release or executive messaging, I operate as a final editorial checkpoint to ensure your voice is clear, compelling and AP style-compliant. ▪ SENIOR-LEVEL FREELANCE PARTNERSHIP: I act as an extension of your team, handling strategy and execution so you can focus on core business operations. ▪ B2B PR FOR THE PR AGENCY: I also specialize in agency-level visibility strategy. At nearly every agency in my career, I have independently led PR and positioning efforts for the teams I worked with. This includes securing spots on industry recognition lists such as Observer’s 50 Most Powerful PR Firms and PRWeek’s Power List. I also manage award submissions for teams and campaigns, identify leadership speaking opportunities and develop internal honors and performance case studies. These initiatives build credibility and directly drive new business for an agency. WHAT CLIENTS SAY "Consistently impressed with Scott’s ability to manage high-pressure situations, secure impactful stories and build strong media relationships." — Victor Trevino, former VP of communications at Live Nation "A passionate professional with deep cross-disciplinary understanding of entertainment media who consistently goes the extra mile." — Matt Medved, CEO of Now Media and former editor-in-chief of SPIN "Deep relationships with national media, detail-oriented, highly professional and creative." — Tony Case, former senior editor at Digiday and executive editor at Adweek CORE SERVICES INCLUDE: ▪ Award and ranking strategy ▪ Crisis communications ▪ Product launches ▪ Executive thought leadership ▪ Press release drafting ▪ Press outreach and pitching ▪ Media training ▪ Agency PR and positioning ▪ Ongoing media relations I bridge the gap between creative storytelling and measurable business outcomes. Whether you need a senior-level partner for a major business announcement, campaign development, reputation management, event PR, expert-crafted communications materials or agency growth, I deliver the top-tier communications leadership you need without the overhead of full-time staff. You need a PR partner who understands the nuance of national media and the strategy behind brand and agency growth. Let’s discuss your objectives.