Primary Job Title Chief Growth & Innovation Officer Primary Organization Wisconsin Watch
Location Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, United States Regions Great Lakes, Midwestern US Gender Male Also Known As Rich
Website www.richardebrown.co Facebook View on Facebook LinkedIn View on LinkedIn X (Twitter) View on X
I am the Chief Growth and Innovation Officer at Wisconsin Watch, where I lead earned revenue, audience growth, partnerships, donor relations, and marketing operations. I drive strategic initiatives to expand engagement and ensure sustainability across Wisconsin Watch and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.
I coach the Emerging News Media
Leadership Cohort for CUNY and have led the Ads and Sponsorship Lab for News Revenue Hub. I’ve also taught revenue modeling for the Constellation News Leadership Cohort. My experience includes serving as a Revenue Sustainability Coach for LION and receiving the News Media Alliance Rising Star Award.
In addition, I serve as a board member and Finance Committee chair for NABJ-Milwaukee and on the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation board. I contribute monthly to Editor and Publisher magazine and write for Digital Content Next.
Previously, I was Senior Director of Paid Subscriber Retention at The Daily Beast, where I reduced churn revenue by 15%. At Gannett, I served as Head of Subscriber Churn, and at Liturgical Publications Inc., I led a team that secured $40M in renewals and $2M in digital sales within 18 months. I’ve also held leadership roles at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Omaha World-Herald.
I own an LLC, where I act as a fractional CRO/CGO for media organizations. I develop revenue growth strategies, align sales and marketing, and leverage technology for innovation. I’ve provided keynotes and training for the Iowa Press Association, Wyoming Press Association, Minnesota Press Association, and the College Media Business and Advertising Managers. I also contributed to the Lenfest Beyond Print Toolkit, guiding print news organizations toward sustainable digital models.
My approach simplifies complex problems through data-driven insights and continuous learning. By leveraging behavioral economics, I guide organizations in optimizing sales, fundraising, and audience engagement. I am committed to securing funding for underserved communities, ensuring that critical stories reach the audiences who need them most.
I am a catalyst for growth and innovation in the news media industry, focused on sustainable growth and impactful storytelling that drives professional excellence and social responsibility.
