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Creative Loafing Seeks Account Executive

Get those resumes ready! Creative Loafing is looking for a new account executive. Creative Loafing is the premier media platform for local Atlanta businesses and has been a staple in the city for over 43 years.

They are seeking a "dynamic, seasoned media sales professional to join our team. " Job requirements include:

Prospecting is a key element of this position; it requires identifying and qualifying new clients for our digital, print, special publications and events

Generate advertising revenue by consistently meeting and exceeding monthly, quarterly and annual revenue goals.

Develop new business and manage the sales cycle from start to finish

Maintain an active schedule of face-to-face appointments and prospecting calls.

Develop and maintain strong client relationships.

Represent Creative Loafing at our marquee and community events.

Contribute to a positive team environment.

Creative Loafing is looking for applicants that have the following skills and experience: 

Two years minimum experience selling media and/or sponsorships and integrated marketing campaigns.  Experience in digital sales is a plus.

Strong phone and presentation skills a must.

A proven track record of consistent revenue growth.

Effective time management skills.

The ability to exceed expectations in a results-oriented environment.

Professional written, verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

College degree preferred.

Experience in MS Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint and CRM platforms.

Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter, and history of earning to jobs@creativeloafing.com.

Job Information, responsibilities, and desired skills are from: http://www.creativeloafing.com/jobs

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Creative Loafing has some exciting, new events occurring this season. Many of which involve giving back. The website currently features a plethora of community service opportunities. For a mere $15 patrons can support the launch of the Urban Nutcracker. The Purple Orchids is also hosting its Survivors and Thrivers brunch on the 28th of the month. There is even something for pups. Woodruff Park is hosting its free WoodRUFF Bark Halloween Dog Parade & Festival. If you are looking to give blood, the American Red Cross is hosting a Halloween Blood Drive at the Arbor Terrace of Burnt Hickory. From food to money, to time, to blood, there is a way for everyone to get involved in the community.

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Redesigned and Redfined

Savannah Elder, a Journalist for The Signal, interviews CL’s Music Editor Chad Radford for insights on the future of the organization as they try to adapt to an increasingly digital media environment.

Tell me a little bit about the transition itself with Creative Loafing.

Radford: We think of the print issue as kind of like a trophy. So we have all been working hard to make the print product as strong as it can be. Honestly, even though we’ve switched to monthly, it doesn’t feel like the workflow has changed that much. We are really pushing hard to get more content online and what it has done is kind of relaxed the pace at which we do things. Things can feel like you’re on a treadmill at times. There’s always another print issue going on, so expanding it into a monthly release makes us curate more and spend more time editing.

What kind of things are being slowed down at CL for more content?

Radford: We have time now to really sit and kind of question everything. Everything is not a rush job. From structure to what’s being said, it gives myself more time to discuss with the other writers. We can do more because we have more time to reflect on what we’re doing. We can take our time and do it right.

What kind of things will we see in the structure of CL’s music section?

Radford: For online, I think what you’ll see is more programmed content. I started doing a podcast called Atlanta Untrapped, which is a hip-hop podcast. On Mondays, I have New Music Mondays, which is where we roll out a whole bunch of music that is either premiering at that moment or has come out in the last week. There’s kind of this charge where artists come at us without any warning, and it just doesn’t do anybody any good [to post it] because we don’t have any time to respond to it. So with New Music Mondays, it allows that time for us to think about it. I’ve done three so far, and as we move forward, I think you’ll see the writing become more substantial because that’s sort of the goal with it.

Are you still doing Live From the Archives?

Radford: Yeah, those are working out really well for us. Along with the podcasts being available on the website and on SoundCloud, I think we will work getting onto iTunes soon. There’s an app called Stitcher, which is like a podcast app, and we’re working to get it on there. I’m pushing to get stickers made and with all of that we could get [CL] into things like A3C Festival from that kind of stuff in the way that we’re a sponsor of it because of the content we’re able to create and manage.

So the goal is to get more concentrated on what’s going on and then curate an expansion of it?

Radford: Right. And Tony Paris, who is an old [music] editor, worked here in the 80’s and 90’s, and possibly the 70’s, but he’s been around Creative Loafing for decades. He was here at the peak of the alt-week industry and now he’s coming back for a weekly column called High Frequency. The first one is coming out on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Do you see more challenges ahead or just more opportunities?

Radford: Well, there are challenges because, like I said, I started doing a podcast, and that’s an unchartered territory because speaking and writing are two different things for me. There are lots of times where I kind of fumbled here and there, but there’s a certain charm to that. Giving myself more of a “podcast” pace and tone is something I’ll be working on moving forward. There’s always going to be a challenge with technology and upping things by finding new music, which, you know, is always out there.

How are the monthly print issues being dispersed? Are they still going to be in the CL boxes?

Radford: I don’t know how often they distribute them, but I know I’ve seen a couple of [boxes] get re-upped since the original drop date of the current issue: The Ultimate Wing Smackdown. The Best of ATL will come out, and it’s going to be thicker.

What do you mean by thicker?

Radford: Yeah, that’s another thing. People complained about how thin they got over the years. So, it’s going to get thicker. [The prints] have gotten glossy covers, a re-design, and you’ll see how CL is at the bottom of the page with the new blue barrier. It’s all good.

This interview was originally conducted on September 20, 2017. This month, our Media, Management, and Marketing group will be interviewing CL staff to compare their responses and examine their strategy to adjust to a digital platform. 

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Creative Loafing Music

Giving you all exclusive insights to some of the biggest artist and musicians from all over the world right here in Atlanta, Georgia. The music aspect of this organization follows just about every trend and genre of music that is hitting the top charts today. Furthermore, Creative Loafing gives you the variety to know and learn facts about all music groups through personal one on one interviews with artists. 

The best part about Creative Loafing's musical presence is that they cover so many concerts and events that keep you up to date on everything that is going to happen and did happen during the events. Satisfaction within the musical department of this organization is an understatement.  

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Creative Loafing Events

The name of this organization was the perfect fit to the flavor that is produced along the way. For example, on the events side in the City of Atlanta you get the best source of news with style. My personal favorites are the magazine covers which almost give you a direct feel for what this company is all about; being the best source of information while maintaining style and substance. No matter what news is being delivered, Creative Loafing never forgets who they are. In saying this, events come and go in Atlanta and there are only a number of magazines and websites that get the exclusive scoops. Therefore, as one of the most popular weekly news providers, Creative Loafing has made themselves a powerhouse in the media industry and brings information to its consumers that no other can.  

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Creative Loafing Ends Weekly Edition

In August 2017 Creative Loafing ended their practice of publishing a weekly print edition. Since the multimedia company was founded in 1972, Atlanta natives would pick up a free copy at the infamous green boxes found outside of restaurants, libraries, etc.

Now Creative Loafing can be found at over 1,000 locations as a monthly edition. The company has added a glossy cover and in a interview with AJC, publisher Sharry Smith said that “we want to make the print product more of a trophy piece that people want to have and have staying power. We won’t stray from our brand and content we’ve always covered. The print publication will be beefier and more of a sit-back experience.”

The company is also stepping up their digital operations. This is due to the interactions between the audience and advertisers. Readers are now looking to alternative mediums to get their information.

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Fun & Free

Creative Loafing has comprised a guide to the Best of Atlanta, and it's trending. From art, to music to shopping the site has identified the best that Atlanta has to offer, most of which is completely free! 

Creative Loafing is known for its comprehensive knowledge of all things fun. This week alone it highlights over 25 fun and free events. It lists a vast amount of experiences that are within walking distance of some of Atlanta's most popular neighborhoods. This month Atlanta residents can watch Ludacris perform at the College Football HOF, an Ani Defranco dance concert, a screening of Gifted and Ghosted and a battle of sexes all for free. There is even a chance for followers to receive free tickets to the Aretha Franklin concert.  

Customers say, "There are some very talented writers at Creative Loafing, and my hat goes off to them for the remarkable job that they do on a weekly basis. Undoubtedly the best Newspaper that Atlanta has to offer."

With creative layouts, great writing, and great events, the Fun and Free section of the Creative Loafing has something for everyone.

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Creative Loafing: A Brief History

Creative Loafing was founded in Atlanta in 1972 as a family-owned business. The founders, Deborah and Elton "Chick" Eason, published the first issues from their basement in the Morningside Neighborhood of Atlanta.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, CL expanded to other cities in the Southeastern United States. After the purchase of the Chicago Reader and Washington City Paper in 2007, circulation doubled. However, with that growth also came $40 million of debt. Coupled with an economic recession, CL was forced to file bankruptcy within the year. All properties were sold to other publishers by 2012. Creative Loafing Atlanta was sold to SouthComm Communications in 2012.

After decades of distributing free weekly print editions around Atlanta, CL announced in August of 2017 that they will cease their weekly print edition and focus on a monthly digital platform.

“We’ve been seeing this through interactions with our audience and advertisers and how we consume information,” said Publisher Sharry Smith in an interview with the Atlanta-Journal Consitution. “It was a very logical conclusion to make. We’re in a whole new era.”

Over the years, CL Atlanta has earned multiple awards for their coverage of news, culture, music, and the arts.