Karen Mracek

Current

Assistant business editor, Des Moines Register at Gannett, Inc.

Past

Editor, Edge Business Magazine at Gazette Communications
Business Reporter at Arizona Daily Star

Education

University of Florida - Warrington College Of Business
Niceville High School

Recommended

5 people have recommended Karen

Connections

158 connections

Industry

Newspapers

Websites

Des Moines Register

Karen Mracek’s Summary

Assist in the daily planning, execution and editing of the daily business section of the Des Moines Register. Oversee planning, editing and production of Monday Business section, including writing a bi-weekly column about work force issues. Supervise and coach reporters and the business news assistant.

Karen Mracek’s Specialties:

I have covered small business, retail, tourism, and general business trends. I supervise reporters that cover manufacturing, technology, retail, small business, marketing, and networking.

Karen Mracek’s Experience

Assistant business editor, Des Moines Register

Gannett, Inc.

(Public Company; Newspapers industry)

January 2007 — Present (2 years 7 months)

• Plan and edit daily stories for the business section of the Des Moines Register, 2006 Overall winner of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers award, with a daily circulation of 150,000 and Sunday circulation of 250,000.
• Write and blog for “Workbytes” column on a bi-weekly basis covering workplace issues written towards Generation X and Y workers.
• Post updates, photos and stories to DesMoinesRegister.com on a daily basis.
• Coach and mentor business reporters covering manufacturing, small business, retail, and energy, and a business section news assistant
Editor, Edge Business Magazine

Gazette Communications

(Writing and Editing industry)

November 2004 — December 2006 (2 years 2 months)

• Plan and edit a monthly business-to-business magazine, Edge Business Magazine, circulation 10,000 business leaders and executives in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area.
• Coordinate photos, graphics and layout of the 32 page publication to tell compelling stories about the best practices of business in Eastern Iowa
• Wrote and maintained blog at EdgeBusinessMagazine.com
• Coordinated change of publication from a tabloid news print product to a full glossy 8.5” by 11” magazine, facilitating complete redesign, helping it take first place in stand alone publication category at the Inland Press Foundation and National Special Sections Conference.
Business Reporter

Arizona Daily Star

(Public Company; Newspapers industry)

2001 — 2004 (3 years)

• Wrote stories in the areas of small business, retail and tourism for the second largest paper in Arizona, circulation 100,000 daily.
• Edited annual Star 200 section which highlighted Southern Arizona’s largest employers, including compiling and verifying a large database of companies.
• Editor of the company’s bi-monthly newsletter, compiling stories that covered all aspects of the publishing business.
• Developed a weekly column featuring local businesses and consultants that gave them advice and direction for a common business problem.