Richard E. Brown Media Growth & Revenue Innovation

I am the Chief Growth & Innovation Officer at Wisconsin Watch, leading efforts in revenue, audience and membership growth, partnership development, donor relations, and marketing. I drive statewide impact through bureaus, Statehouse coverage, and investigative teams that fill critical information gaps in underserved Wisconsin communities, all tracked through KPIs in audience growth and financial sustainability. I coach CUNY’s Emerging News Media Leadership Cohort, lead News Revenue Hub’s Ads Lab, and teach revenue strategy for Lenfest and CUNY. My experience includes reducing churn at The Daily Beast by 15% and generating $40M in renewals at Gannett. I serve as Finance Chair for NABJ-Milwaukee, contribute to Editor & Publisher monthly, and own an LLC as a fractional CRO, developing revenue strategies for media. My behavioral economics approach creates narratives that resonate with audiences and sponsors, ensuring crucial stories reach those who need them most.