Jennifer M. Wood
Managing Editor at Mental Floss- Claim this Profile
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Topline Score
Bio
LinkedIn User
Jenn is a detail-oriented editor who knows how to meet deadlines while pushing content to its creative boundaries. She is a terrific manager, allowing those who work under her to enjoy creative and professional autonomy while she deftly guides the overall direction and business of a publication. Additionally—and importantly—she is also a very fun person to work with. As someone who has also worked with her as a freelance writer, I can knowingly say that Jenn gives writers the freedom to write well, but also has the editorial talent to make any submitted piece better. She knows publishing—both print and digital—inside and out, and has spent years cultivating strong relationships within the industry. I recommend Jenn without reservation and with full confidence that any company would be smart to employ her.
Alexis Buryk
Jenn in a word: comprehensive. Having worked with Jenn first as one of her editorial interns, later as an editorial assistant, and then later still as a freelance writer, I have always been consistently impressed by her boundless energy, fresh ideas, and dogged determination, not to mention her business and interpersonal acumen. Jenn gets things done well, and on time. She’s the full package: an editor who understands writers, a writer who can always sees the bigger picture, and overall, a businessperson who is dedicated, talented, and infinitely adaptable. I would absolutely recommend her without reservation, and think any organization would be lucky to have her on staff.
LinkedIn User
Jenn is a detail-oriented editor who knows how to meet deadlines while pushing content to its creative boundaries. She is a terrific manager, allowing those who work under her to enjoy creative and professional autonomy while she deftly guides the overall direction and business of a publication. Additionally—and importantly—she is also a very fun person to work with. As someone who has also worked with her as a freelance writer, I can knowingly say that Jenn gives writers the freedom to write well, but also has the editorial talent to make any submitted piece better. She knows publishing—both print and digital—inside and out, and has spent years cultivating strong relationships within the industry. I recommend Jenn without reservation and with full confidence that any company would be smart to employ her.
Alexis Buryk
Jenn in a word: comprehensive. Having worked with Jenn first as one of her editorial interns, later as an editorial assistant, and then later still as a freelance writer, I have always been consistently impressed by her boundless energy, fresh ideas, and dogged determination, not to mention her business and interpersonal acumen. Jenn gets things done well, and on time. She’s the full package: an editor who understands writers, a writer who can always sees the bigger picture, and overall, a businessperson who is dedicated, talented, and infinitely adaptable. I would absolutely recommend her without reservation, and think any organization would be lucky to have her on staff.
LinkedIn User
Jenn is a detail-oriented editor who knows how to meet deadlines while pushing content to its creative boundaries. She is a terrific manager, allowing those who work under her to enjoy creative and professional autonomy while she deftly guides the overall direction and business of a publication. Additionally—and importantly—she is also a very fun person to work with. As someone who has also worked with her as a freelance writer, I can knowingly say that Jenn gives writers the freedom to write well, but also has the editorial talent to make any submitted piece better. She knows publishing—both print and digital—inside and out, and has spent years cultivating strong relationships within the industry. I recommend Jenn without reservation and with full confidence that any company would be smart to employ her.
Alexis Buryk
Jenn in a word: comprehensive. Having worked with Jenn first as one of her editorial interns, later as an editorial assistant, and then later still as a freelance writer, I have always been consistently impressed by her boundless energy, fresh ideas, and dogged determination, not to mention her business and interpersonal acumen. Jenn gets things done well, and on time. She’s the full package: an editor who understands writers, a writer who can always sees the bigger picture, and overall, a businessperson who is dedicated, talented, and infinitely adaptable. I would absolutely recommend her without reservation, and think any organization would be lucky to have her on staff.
LinkedIn User
Jenn is a detail-oriented editor who knows how to meet deadlines while pushing content to its creative boundaries. She is a terrific manager, allowing those who work under her to enjoy creative and professional autonomy while she deftly guides the overall direction and business of a publication. Additionally—and importantly—she is also a very fun person to work with. As someone who has also worked with her as a freelance writer, I can knowingly say that Jenn gives writers the freedom to write well, but also has the editorial talent to make any submitted piece better. She knows publishing—both print and digital—inside and out, and has spent years cultivating strong relationships within the industry. I recommend Jenn without reservation and with full confidence that any company would be smart to employ her.
Alexis Buryk
Jenn in a word: comprehensive. Having worked with Jenn first as one of her editorial interns, later as an editorial assistant, and then later still as a freelance writer, I have always been consistently impressed by her boundless energy, fresh ideas, and dogged determination, not to mention her business and interpersonal acumen. Jenn gets things done well, and on time. She’s the full package: an editor who understands writers, a writer who can always sees the bigger picture, and overall, a businessperson who is dedicated, talented, and infinitely adaptable. I would absolutely recommend her without reservation, and think any organization would be lucky to have her on staff.
Experience
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Mental Floss
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United States
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Book and Periodical Publishing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Managing Editor
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Apr 2015 - Present
• Manage the day-to-day editorial operations and content strategy of the Webby Award-winning website • Oversee and edit the site’s movie TV, and entertainment verticals and ensure all deadlines are met • Assign and edit all news posts, features, lists, etc. that fall within the Entertainment vertical • Review pitches and work with editors to ensure that all deadlines and editorial standards are being met • Work closely with the company’s sales and marketing teams to brainstorm sponsored or branded content ideas • Manage the outlet’s social media channels, making sure that stories are being promoted as quickly and effectively as possible and finding ways to capitalize on trending topics in a way that is organic to the brand and its goals • Direct all of the site’s SEO efforts, tracking past SEO successes and ideating new content to continually increase SEO numbers • Train staff on SEO optimization techniques and best practices for all headlines, content, and URLs Show less
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Editor & Writer
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Jan 2000 - Present
• Write news stories, features, interviews, and oral histories for a variety of publications, including Condé Nast Traveler, WIRED, Vulture, Rolling Stone, GQ, Esquire, Men’s Journal, Details, Travel + Leisure, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and The A.V. Club • Brainstorm, plan, and execute branded content for a variety of outlets and clients • Editor of the sixth edition of Time Out Miami’s print travel guide (published in July 2013) • Published author of seven nonfiction books, including the best-selling Mr. Cheap’s New York and Mr. Cheap’s Chicago, the Uncommon Courtesy etiquette guide, and four editions of the Deadly Dictionary Show less
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Editor-in-Chief
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Aug 2011 - Jan 2013
• Direct the daily editorial, production, advertising and marketing operations of the print and online editions of one of the art industry’s oldest and best-known trade magazines • Brainstorm original content ideas and work with production team and freelancers to execute them • Supervise the advertising sales team, working to coordinate marketing promotions, print and online ad trafficking and sponsored editorial opportunities and to help build and maintain client relationships • Under my guidance, the magazine underwent a major redesign, which resulted in a 20 percent increase in paid circulation, improved print advertising sales and newsstand distribution Show less
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MovieMaker Magazine
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United States
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Movies, Videos, and Sound
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1 - 100 Employee
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Editor-in-Chief
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Oct 2000 - Sep 2012
• Direct the day-to-day editorial and publishing functions of the print and online editions of the world’s best-selling independent movie magazine and its accompanying mobile and digital editions • Conceptualize and execute all original content ideas, including FOB, features and packages • Collaborate directly with the magazine’s design team on all visuals for print and digital editions • Strategize and implement all long-term planning, including schedule, budget and content strategy • Oversee all online marketing functions, including social media, e-newsletters and Web analytics • Hire and manage all full-time, part-time, contract and temporary team members across departments • Coordinate the efforts of 100+ worldwide employees and freelancers to ensure that deadlines are met Show less
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Portland Festival of World CInema
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Portland, Maine, United States
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Director
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Jan 2000 - Jan 2002
• Co-founded the Portland Festival of World Cinema, an international film festival on the coast of Maine • Worked with the festival's executive director to craft mission, develop best business practices, strategize, and execute an inaugural festival on time and under budget • Hired all key stakeholders and oversaw a team of approximately 75 volunteers • Reviewed and rated all film and screenplay submissions in order to develop final program • Liaised with publicists and talent agents in order to secure celebrity guest appearances and first-run premieres • Conceptualized, directed, and oversaw the creative and editorial elements of our print and online film festival catalog Show less
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Adams Media
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United States
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Book and Periodical Publishing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Editor
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May 1998 - Oct 2000
Work directly under the Managing Editor to oversee all editorial and production functions of the Reference Division of Adams Media Corporation, publishers of the best-selling JobBank and Everything series. Work directly under the Managing Editor to oversee all editorial and production functions of the Reference Division of Adams Media Corporation, publishers of the best-selling JobBank and Everything series.
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Education
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Villanova University
BA, Psychology