Chris Compendio is a Philadelphia-based writer and editor with about a decade of professional experience in journalism, copywriting, content management, and marketing.

With an education in project management and creative writing, Chris's attention to detail and mix of talents have benefited several digital outlets and clients.

Chris has had roles in local reporting, video game journalism, public relations, podcast production, marketing, and copyediting. Chris was most recently a full-time staff writer and reporter for PhillyVoice and previously served as managing editor of Gamepur.

Chris is currently seeking new full-time roles in writing, editing, reporting, and communications.

I'm an experienced journalist with multiple bylines, primarily reporting local news in Philadelphia and popular culture media, including video games, film, and television. I've interviewed subject matter experts and conducted field reporting for original stories, all of which are well-researched and written with close attention to detail.

As a reporter for PhillyVoice, I covered local politics, news, and events in the Greater Philadelphia region. My main beats included the city's public transit, universities, LGBTQ+ community, and niche subcommunities. I also reported on local businesses, food and drink establishments, and city politics. I was first to report on a political controversy at a popular Philadelphia gay bar, and I was also at the scene when a pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Pennsylvania was dismantled.

As a pop culture reporter, I attended several conventions and industry events, including E3 2019, PAX East, PAX Unplugged, New York Comic-Con, and GDC. I've also covered several media events, previewed popular video games pre-release, and received advanced screenings for TV episodes to review.

I'm an expert storyteller and digital media professional, and my skills would serve any public relations or marketing firms well. I know how to identify story ideas and communicate them efficiently. My experience doing so makes me perfect for writing your press releases and pitching to media outlets.

My work as a journalist primes me for a career in communications: not only have I built countless relationships with several public relations firms and media outlets that I can leverage, but I have an investigative and fact-based approach to everything I write. I know how to tailor stories for different audiences, and I've covered a wide variety of subjects and industries.

Additionally, I worked as a Marketing Copywriter for GMR Marketing, working with Comcast as a client. In that role, I provided my subject matter expertise on the video gaming world for various media campaigns, contributing copy that emphasized the gaming-friendly speeds of Xfinity Wifi. I also contributed to marketing copy for a promotional campaign at Universal Studios.

My close attention to detail has proved to be my greatest asset through my career. I aim for every piece I write to be comprehensive, leaving no important stone unturned, while being concise and efficient. I've written several types of online content, from news stories, listicles, gallery slides, data-driven essays,  and marketing material.

I employ the same principles as an editor, guiding writers to make their work as strong and effective as possible. I have trained several writers to develop helpful and sustainable habits, and one of my greatest joys in my career is helping writers carry their own original ideas across the finish line. I have a collaborative spirit that has helped me to build a network of writers and editors who trust me as a peer or mentor.

My copywriting experience includes a contractor role for Stacker, which specializes in data-driven lists and long-form pieces. My work for Stacker has beren syndicated to numerous news websites, including MSN and local news outlets across the United States. I have copyedited for Stacker and several other outlets, including Daily Esports (now Upcomer), where I copyedited news stories about the world of competitive eSports.

Working in digital media for my entire career, I'm well-versed in several content management systems. I have primarily used WordPress in previous roles, but I am also experienced with Wagtail, Movable Type, and many proprietary CMS tools. I also have direct experience using Google Analytics and search engine optimization tools in professional roles.

One of my previous full-time positions, managing the outlet Gamepur, required me to closely monitor the website, particularly its presentation and content. I worked in cross-functional teams, regularly collaborating with social media managers, SEO experts, and marketing specialists. I also have experience working on a website redesign and rebranding for a client, which had me communicate with stakeholders and provide them with the proper documentation to ensure that the host migration and switch to WordPress was a sustainable solution for their mission.

I aim to be in a position where I can help build and maintain websites in collaborative teams, bringing my workflow organization skills and scrutinous sense of detail to the table.

I majored in Information Systems at Carnegie Mellon University, graduating in May 2016. My primary focus in my studies was project management, and I am knowledgeable with different methodologies, namely Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall. My education also had me focus on user experience research.

Whether I employed those exact methodologies or not, I applied my learning to numerous professional careers since my education. One of my full-time roles was managing the outlet Gamepur for the company Gamurs Group. As the manager, I recruited and trained writers and editors, ultimately managing a staff of over 40 people. I refined the existing organizational workflow and incorporated new steps to improve communication and efficiency.

I am an expert on utilizing project management applications such as Trello and Asana, and I am quick to adapt to any other software that tracks and visualizes workflows.

I have managed Discord servers and social media accounts for organizations, promoting events and moderating online communities. The largest personal project that I had a major hand in is the LFG Philly group, which organizes a network of LGBTQ+ video game enthusiasts for in-person and online meetups. LFG Philly has been featured and profiled in two publications, both which feature interview quotes from myself.

I look to apply my experiences to help other organizations build safe and inclusive communities, as well as gathering feedback from community members and assisting with media promotion of projects and products.