Director of Online Communications at The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI)
Washington D.C. Metro Area
- Current
-
- Director of Online Communications and Strategy at The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI)
- Owner at Mark O'Keefe Communications
- Past
-
- Associate Director, Web Editorial, at The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life
- Editor in Chief at Religion News Service
- National Correspondent at Newhouse News Service
- Reporter at The Oregonian
- Reporter at The Virginian-Pilot
- Wisconsin Broadcast Editor, Sports Editor at United Press International
- Education
-
- Regent University
- Marquette University
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
- Recommended
-
7 people have recommended Mark - Connections
-
331
connections
- Industry
- Think Tanks
- Websites
Mark O'Keefe’s Summary
I'm a Web-savvy communications strategist with a collaborative style. I like to think of myself as a communicator who uniquely incorporates three skill sets:
-- WEB VISIONARY, PROJECT MANAGER: Wrote, executed Washington think tank's Web 2.0 strategic plan that more than doubled unique monthly visitors from 2006-2008. Managed staff and IT vendors to create and edit two microsites honored by Webby Awards.
-- AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST: Led Washington-based national news service as top editor 2004-2006; as newspaper and news service reporter, covered sports, education, city government, state government, Congress, philanthropy, social issues and religion; covered two Democratic and three GOP conventions; won dozen-plus awards, including Overseas Press Club Award for best global human rights reporting by a U.S. print journalist. Nominated six times (02, 99, 97, 96, 94, 93) by supervising editors for Pulitzer Prize.
-- MEDIA RELATIONS, MARKETING COORDINATOR: Oversaw rollout of survey releases that garnered hundreds of press hits from outlets such as New York Times, AP, NPR, CBS; administered Web marketing campaigns that helped double unique visitors in just two years; made branding and public relations decisions.
.
Mark O'Keefe’s Specialties:
• Communications strategy, execution
• Web design, redesign
• E-newsletters
• Blog strategy, execution
• Multimedia: Podcasts, Video, Webinars
• SEO
• Social media marketing
• Media relations
• Graphics
• Photos
• Writing
• Editing
Mark O'Keefe’s Experience
-
Director of Online Communications and Strategy
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI)
(Public Company; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
October 2009 — Present (2 months)
I oversee electronic communications, including websites, social media, newsletters and more. Check us out on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and www.aei.org.
What is AEI? Glad you asked. We are a private, nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution dedicated to research and education. Some have called us "a university without students." We have a collegial and entrepreneurial culture where everyone from interns on up can and do make a difference.
Founded in 1943, AEI is home to public policy experts -- from economics, law, political science, foreign policy studies, ethics, theology, health care, and other fields. We host hundreds of events every year and also communicate the old-fashioned way, on sturdy paper bound in books. Our website features our latest publications, videos, transcripts, scholar bios and event schedules.
AEI is also the mother ship of American.com, the Enterprise Blog and several other sites, with much more to come if I have my way. We take up the top three floors of our building at 17th and M, across the street from National Geographic. -
Owner
Mark O'Keefe Communications
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
June 2009 — Present (6 months)
In today’s wired world, every nonprofit needs a web-savvy communications strategy. New technologies offer unprecedented opportunities, yet timeless qualities like accuracy, thoroughness and honesty are also needed, perhaps now more than ever. I help nonprofits large and small reach their next level of connection.
My 15-plus years of experience both covering and communicating for nonprofits give me a unique ability to combine the best practices of "new" and “old” media. My team delivers digital-age vision, technological know-how and editorial workmanship to make sure your nonprofit connects, bringing you a measurable return on your investment.
In recent weeks, we have:
• Implemented Google analytics, repurposed print materials for Web, redesigned pages with new photos, added content in Mandarin for US-China Education Trust, which promotes US-China relations through education and exchange for China’s next-generation leaders.
• Wrote 5-year, communications plan – encompassing media relations, multimedia Web strategy, print strategy, Web-based training, staffing and budgeting -- for Advocates International, which serves more than 30,000 members, most of them lawyers, in 156 countries. -
Associate Director, Web Editorial,
The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life
(Online Media industry)
April 2006 — June 2009 (3 years 3 months)
• Wrote and executed 2007-2009 Web strategic plan for nonprofit “fact tank” that increased unique monthly visitors 132%.
• Conceived, built, edited and managed “Religion & Politics ’08 (click 1st "my website"),” a Webby Awards finalist (top five) for best political site of 2008.
• Oversaw vendors, staff to develop first-of-its-kind showcase of nationwide survey data (2nd my website) that empowered users to interact with info using dynamic maps and charts. First day of release saw 800% increase over site’s previous one-day record.
• Redesigned and edited weekly newsletter; increased number of subscriptions 144% in three years, lifted click-through rate 21%.
• Redesigned home page and branded with tagline: “Research. News. Discussion.”
• Oversaw and completed in-depth needs assessment for new content management system (CMS).
• Co-managed media relations for survey release that garnered 180 press hits.
• Managed web marketing budget. -
Editor in Chief
Religion News Service
(Media Production industry)
2004 — 2006 (2 years )
• Managed secular news service devoted to unbiased coverage of religion and values;
served 250 media subscribers ranging from Baptist Press to Washington Post.
• Managed editors, reporters, interns and 100-plus freelance writers, some overseas.
• Planned and administered editorial budget, expanded coverage and cut costs 20%.
• Consulted for PBS show Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. -
National Correspondent
Newhouse News Service
(Online Media industry)
1999 — 2004 (5 years )
• Pioneered “values and philanthropy” beat for Newhouse chain’s 32 newspapers, including New Orleans Times-Picayune, Cleveland Plain-Dealer, The Oregonian.
• Traveled six hours in handmade canoe with Baptist missionary to reach remote rain forest in Peru’s Amazon region; chronicled interaction with Indian tribe, the Ashaninka.
• Covered Congress for one year, focused on stories of interest to Pacific Northwest. -
Reporter
The Oregonian
(Privately Held; Newspapers industry)
1994 — 1999 (5 years )
• Reported and wrote award-winning series on worldwide religious persecution, uncovered gripping stories from trips to China, Burma, Sudan, Pakistan and Egypt.
• Led award-winning coverage of medical, political, legal, philosophical and moral issues in the legalization of physician-assisted suicide in Oregon.
• Covered 1996 Republican (San Diego) and Democratic (Chicago) Conventions. -
Reporter
The Virginian-Pilot
(Privately Held; Newspapers industry)
1987 — 1994 (7 years )
• Exposed how Pat Robertson diverted $2.8 million from nonprofit ministry to his for-profit vitamin company; led to IRS probe, internal reforms, sale of company for $1.
• Uncovered rampant overcharges and unnecessary overtime in Chesapeake, Va., municipal garage. Led to firings, indictments, area-wide reforms.
• Chronicled PTA fundraising abuses; led to state and national reforms that protected children from undue fundraising pressure. -
Wisconsin Broadcast Editor, Sports Editor
United Press International
(Online Media industry)
1983 — 1985 (2 years )
• Oversaw around-the-clock state broadcast report to 101 radio and TV outlets.
• Coordinated coverage of Wisconsin sports: Packers, Bucks, Brewers, Badgers.
Additional Information
Mark O'Keefe’s Websites:
Mark O'Keefe’s Honors:
• U.S. Religious Landscape microsite chosen as official honoree of Webby Awards – “the Academy Awards of the Internet” -- in religion and spirituality category (2009).
• Religion & Politics ’08 microsite named Webby Awards finalist (top five) in politics category, eclipsing well-known political sites such as CNNPolitics.com, Politico (2008).
• First place, Overseas Press Club Award, global human-rights coverage in a print medium, for six-part, five-country series on religious persecution (1998).
• First place, Best of the West (13 western states), in-depth series or project (1998).
• Nominated six times (02, 99, 97, 96, 94, 93) by supervising editors for Pulitzer Prize.
• Six-time finalist (top five) for Religion Newswriters Association Reporter of the Year Award (2002, 98, 96, 95, 94 and 93).
• First place, Religion Communicators Council’s Wilbur Award (1999).
• First place, Stickel Award, for best reporting and writing at The Oregonian (1997).
Mark O'Keefe’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
