Chase Davis

Consulting

I have worked selectively as a consultant in media and technology for more than 15 years. In that capacity, I have helped news organizations large and small solve a broad range of journalistic, technical and strategic problems.

Among other things, I helped to launch the Texas Tribune, building its first content-management system and website. I advised large international news companies on elections data strategy. I built and maintained technical infrastructure for mission critical, high-traffic news applications. I worked with startups, including partering in the launch of a failed one. And I built one of the most popular news interactives in the history of Denmark 🇩🇰.

Here are some ways I might be able to help you:

  • I can make things on the internet: I’ve architected and built everything from small, one-off interactives, to publishing platforms and tools, to huge, scalable applications that can’t break … or else.

  • I can help you build news products — quickly: New story forms. One-off experiments. Things that didn’t quite make Q2 roadmap. I know news organizations. I get deadlines. I know which corners you can cut and which ones you can’t. Let me convince you that the thing you wish you could build isn’t as difficult or expensive as you’ve been told it is.

  • I can help you tell stories with data: I’ve turned rows and columns into award-winning stories. I’ve turned rows and columns into interactive applications and visualizations. I’ve turned rows and columns into memos and slide decks that have driven editorial and business strategies. And I’ve turned things that aren’t rows and columns INTO rows and columns so I could do all of the above.

  • I can help you with your strategy without sounding like a McKinsey consultant: Looking to 10x your ROI on a scalable content strategy while maximizing efficiency through cross-functional synergies? I’m not your guy. But I can help you figure out how to mash together technology, data, product and journalism into strategies that journalists buy into — and then communicate those strategies in language that normal people understand. For starters, let’s banish the word “content.”

  • 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖: I know: Everyone claims to be an AI expert these days. But the first time I applied what you might now call “AI” to journalism was 2009; I’ve used machine learning to solve real journalism problems; I’ve taught algorithms to journalism students at Columbia University; and I’ve run a dedicated AI team at an actual news organization. I don’t think it’s magic. I don’t view it as a cheat code to do more, cheaper, faster. I do, however, think it’s malpractice for journalists not to understand it, and, used correctly, I believe it can magnify the impact of our work, strengthen our relationships with readers and (yes) help us make money. So if that resonates, reach out.

And other stuff besides. Just ask: chase.davis@gmail.com