CHRISTIAN SAGER

Christian Sager

Portland, Oregon

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Summary

I'm a self-motivated storyteller who has spent 16+ years managing communication and creative content for social media, print publishing, podcasting and higher education. Independently, I've crowd funded and published several graphic novels, as well as a weekly podcast about media and popular culture.

 

Top Skills

• Storytelling

• Communication

• Social Media

• Independent Media

• Creative Strategy

• Publishing

• Graphic Design

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Experience

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Live Wire Radio

Marketing Associate

April 2018 - December 2019  

Portland, Oregon

 

At Live Wire I produced marketing and social media content for a nationally syndicated public-radio program and podcast. This entailed nurturing the show’s audience, promoting public engagement, and maintaining relationships with the show’s press contacts.

 

Using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, the Adobe Creative Suite, Google AdWords and Mailchimp, I managed digital communications and the social media presence for the brand, while assisting in advertising and promotional efforts. I also created publicity assets for Live Wire’s broadcast, podcast and live shows.
 

HowStuffWorks.com

Writer & Podcaster

June 2013 - November 2017 (4 years 6 months)

Atlanta, Georgia

 

HowStuffWorks was a great opportunity to take what I've learned about storytelling and apply it to a full-time career. My favorite part of this job was communicating complex information in a fun, conversational way.

 

Writing & Editing

• Researched and wrote articles, blogs and videos. Edited copy for my colleagues' scripts and articles.

 

Public Speaking

• Hosted podcasts, videos and social media live streams.

 

Strategy

• Managed content strategy, publishing, social media, audience engagement and brand development for shows like Stuff To Blow Your Mind and BrainStuff.

 

Design

• Used Adobe's Creative Suite to design visual communication for these brands.

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Georgia State University

Creative Manager

December 2008 - December 2013 (5 years 1 month)

Greater Atlanta Area

 

Working for Georgia State University Library integrated my design, writing, communication and strategy skills together, where I creatively maintained the narrative for a public institution.

 

Writing & Editing

• Managed a successful blogging program that generated a 500% increase in readership.

• Developed and executed dozens of public relations campaigns, using print, web and social media channels. Composed press releases and other marketing copy.

 

Strategy

• Assessed audience data to build annual marketing plans, while maintaining branding and advertising policies.

• Served on strategic committees to plan and coordinate web design, mobile web presences, social media communication, institutional effectiveness and event planning.

 

Design

• Designed content across platforms with Adobe Creative Suite. Managed print production, while negotiating pricing with vendors and ensuring print quality control.

 

Public Speaking

• Presented to professional service organizations on: public speaking, social media usage, blogging best practices and audience analysis.

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CNN

Freelance Writer

August 2011 - March 2012 (8 months)

Greater Atlanta Area

 

While working full-time at Georgia State University, I also freelanced for CNN's website. With these assignments I took my passion for blogging and learned about the copywriting process at an online media publisher. Under their "Geek Out" banner, I wrote articles about the comic book industry and digital media.

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Georgia State University

Graduate Instructor

August 2006 - May 2008 (1 year 10 months)

Greater Atlanta Area

 

To be a more effective storyteller and build my critical thinking skills, I went to graduate school at Georgia State University. During my studies I was also an instructor of communication classes.

 

• Trained hundreds of students in public speaking, interpersonal skills and media competency. High evaluation scores.

• Refined my own rhetoric skills and began my devotion to mentorship.

• After graduation I continued similar instruction for GSU personnel, as well as classes at the Art Institute of Atlanta.

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America's Test Kitchen

2 years 4 months

Graphic Designer

January 2006 - May 2006 (5 months)

Brookline, MA

 

As my interest in storytelling through publishing developed, I was promoted at America's Test Kitchen to the role of graphic designer.

 

• Conceptualized designs and layouts for several different Cook's Illustrated book series, including their dust jackets.

• Coordinated and processed new photography and illustrations for books, while also assisting in the direction of photo shoots.

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Production Artist February 2004 - January 2006 (2 years)

Brookline, MA

 

America's Test Kitchen was where I first got my feet wet in publishing, seeing the potential in crafting stories for a mass audience.

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Design

• Designed print and web marketing materials, while managing magazine and book layouts.

• Using the Adobe Creative Suite I was responsible for the image correction and layout of Cook's Illustrated magazine, Cook's Country magazine and the entire series of America's Test Kitchen cook books and DVD collections.

• Prepared all files for pre-press and managed color proofing, color correction and scanning for the above products.

 

Strategy

• Responsible for scheduling and company style sheets, to ensure products came out on time with a recognizable aesthetic.

• Maintained relationships with our print vendors and supervised press checks for quality assurance.

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Education

 

Georgia State University

Master of Arts - MA, Communication · (2006 - 2008)

 

University of New Hampshire

Bachelor of Arts - BA, Communication · (1995 - 1999)

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Projects

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Comics Creator

Jun 2007 – Present

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For over 10 years, I have created comic books and graphic novels to fulfill my desire to tell stories. In addition to the creative writing involved, I also manage the book production, publishing and design. By taking art classes, I refined my illustration knowledge, making me a better editor and collaborator on these projects. In addition, I handle the distribution and printing for various comic book markets and events.

 

It was a huge achievement for me to raise over $15,000 for these projects through crowd funding, using social media marketing and video production.

 

My books include: Think of the Children (2011), The Cabinet (2012), Canaan Cult Revival (2014) and Valley of Ashes (2017).

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Supercontext: A Podcast Autopsy of Media

May 2016 – Present

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In order to tell compelling stories about the media industry, I started Supercontext, an independently run, weekly podcast. Every episode looks at how we consume entertainment and how it informs our everyday culture, including film, television, prose, music and comics. Co-hosted by Charlie Bennett, Supercontext tries to critically understand the entertainment world we live in.

 

I continue to expand my podcasting skills with Supercontext. In addition to research, writing and brand management for the show, I also work with our sponsors on their advertising campaigns and illustrate thumbnail art for each episode.

 

I'm proud of self-starting Supercontext, taking the lead and getting things done.

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