Dane Huffman

About

My passion is finding new ways to tell stories that make a real impact, especially by blending established forms such as print with digital platforms and social media. Our circulation has exploded in my time as managing editor at the Triangle Business Journal — among the best in the American City Business Journals family of 44 business publications. In eight years, we have seen circulation rise 150 percent, thanks to a relentless focus on news that is essential to our audience. We've won 44 awards, including General Excellence from SABEW for 2020, a first for the newspaper. ACBJ has shown faith in us by allowing us to hire two more reporters, growing our reporting staff from three to five. Even after years in the business, my pulse soars when we break a great story. I also teach as an adjunct professor at UNC-Chapel Hill. I love the conversations in class and it's so rewarding to see so many talented young people interested in journalism. Previously, I worked at The News & Observer for 24 years, at WRAL-TV for nearly three and managed the website for WNCN in Raleigh, the NBC affiliate in the market. In November 2014, WNCN.com was named the top television website in the Carolinas by the news directors association. In my five years there, we went from 500,000 page views a month to 5 million, which had a significant impact on revenue. I also created a mobile committee at WNCN to get fresh ideas on how to improve there. It is amazing how the news business has changed in just a few years. That has led to a real clutter of information, but also real opportunities. People will find good information on the web, and they will return for more if the quality remains high. This time of shifting patterns of consumption means it is more important than ever to be smart about your approach and give consumers information they want. Consumers are establishing new habits and behaviors every day, and smart companies are establishing beachheads now that will lead to further success. I especially enjoy working with young people with a passion for journalism. I have hired our interns at TBJ and started an intern program at WNCN. While at WNCN, I was on the board of the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas, the first digital leader to join the board.