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Aug. 7, 2014
By Chris Krewson
Community has always been a big part of our plan for Billy Penn. So the first editorial role we decided to fill was that of a Community Manager.
We needed someone who’d help us build a social presence — on digital platforms, and in real life. This great journalist would also have built new products and managed social platforms. So I’m elated to announce that Shannon McDonald has accepted that key role, and will start as Billy Penn’s inaugural Community Manager on Aug. 18.
Shannon, who’s currently the Social Media Strategist for WHYY’s NewsWorks, is a Philadelphia native with deep experience as a social journalist in the city. In addition to her work on NewsWorks’ social platforms, she’s also worked as project manager — founding the popular Philly QuizWorks app — as well as serving as a blogger and aggregator. A Temple graduate and adjunct professor, she also founded NEast Philly, a daily hyperlocal news site for her community, in 2008.
But besides all that, she’s a collaborator with a keen interest in making the city a better place through journalism. We couldn’t be more excited for her to join the team.
“I believe in Philadelphia, and I feel as if I’m watching it grow up right now,” McDonald said. “Every single Philadelphian is experiencing this city in a different way, and I think Billy Penn can help shine a light on those experiences and connect different communities across the city.”
We welcome Shannon to Billy Penn.
–Chris Krewson
Editor, Billy Penn
