Stephen Rynkiewicz profile

Editorial
• Finding the right media to solve problems and earn loyalty.
• Writing to synthesize facts, reach new audiences and prompt action.
• Editing for readability, accuracy and a consistent, engaging tone.
Digital strategy
• Mobile, customized design, focused on core messages.
• SEO and site structure audits to optimize content and workflow.
• Attractive, persuasive ecommerce product pages.
Product development
• Data collection, analysis and visualization to understand buyers.
• Competitive analysis, use cases, specifications to define project.
• Training materials, presentations and technical documentation.

Experience

• American Bar Association: Web editor and developer
• Chicago Sun-Times: Reporter and section editor
• Chicago Tribune: Financial product manager
• Purpose Brand: Content marketing director
• Rivet News Radio: Multimedia producer
• Ruder Finn: Staff Writer
• Tribune Interactive: Financial editor
• Tribune Media: Product development analyst
• Tribune Technology: Project manager

• Consultant: Chicago Community Trust, City Tech Collaborative, Healthcare Financial Management Association, Northwestern University, One Technologies, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Rowman & Littlefield, Tribune Newspapers

Target industries

• Financial, risk management, legal and real estate services
• Health care, educational institutions and member associations
• Automotive, engineering and technology products

Let’s talk

Information can spark action or indecision. Team conflict can be creative or destructive. By organizing and clarifying issues in digital communications, I successfully lead audiences & stakeholders in growing mobile operations to productive action.

I’ve coached staff, vendors & freelancers for best use of their skills; analyzed audience behavior to guide content strategy, served as troubleshooter on performance issues, kept teams updated & documented their success. I’ve crafted communication strategies for nonprofit groups, taught a college course & served as elected officer of a national nonprofit group.

I’m comfortable working across teams to create, scale & advocate new products. Let’s figure out the next one.

–Steve Rynkiewicz (Rin-KEV-itch)

ABA Journal

ABA Journal, the flagship magazine of the American Bar Association, earned 2019 Azbee Awards of Excellence as Top 10 website and best web news section. My web design and legal tech coverage were regional winners.

As a contributor to the print magazine, I expanded the Journal’s best of the legal web feature to podcasts and apps, surveyed bloggers on their work practices, and profiled legal innovators in the Legal Rebels series. Online I was one of three line editors for breaking news. I also wrote on legal technology, reviewed new products and contributed to standing features like Question of the Week.

What’s one thing you wish the public understood about the US legal system?

What one thing do you wish you were told about legal practice?

Top 10 most-read legal news stories of 2018

Web 100: Podcasts

Web 100: Web tools

Dan Linna: Taking the measure of legal innovation

Financial fraud enforcer rips crypto culture for letting compliance slide

At ABA JusticeHack Chicago, community policing collaboration talks through potential tech solutions

Help us find best of the legal web—written, spoken or coded

City Tech Collaborative

As a health-care analyst, I write about health issues in Chicago neighborhoods. I also consult on content strategy and data visualization for the Chicago Health Atlas website, conduct CUT Group user testing of nonprofit apps, participate in Chi Hack Night civic data projects and document technology events in the Knight Community Information Challenge.

Healthy Chicago 2.0: City Sets Broad, Data-driven Goals

Design Thinking Raises Patients’ Profile to Rehab Health Care Access

Healthy Chicago 2.0: Health Action Plan Marshals Community, Data to Target Root Causes

Health Advocates Weigh Data, Equity in Obesity Targets

Chicago hospitals win $8.75 million to launch data network

Community health workers teach asthma patients to breathe easier

Parks take active health role at obesity conference

Doctors prescribe data sharing for health apps

Poor neighborhoods see kidney disease rise in Loyola study

Private data and public health: How Chicago Health Atlas protects identities

At LexHacks, coders make case for legal reform

East Village Association

A Chicago community group calls residents to action through a website, email newsletter, Facebook page and Twitter feed.

My communications for the East Village Association attract a large and diverse following, and draw members to community meetings on planning, schools, police and transit issues.

Social-media campaigns build political support for a Polish Triangle gateway development.
Maps show the nature of neighborhood crime.

The monthly e-mail newsletter has a consistent open rate of 40% to 50%. EVA’s social media presence extends to Twitter events feed, a Flipboard magazine, public discussion groups on Everyblock and Yahoo! and a private NextDoor group, plus event videos on YouTube. The website was launched in 2007 to supplement a printed newsletter. The current Constant Comment newsletter consistently draws a 40% open rate.

Selected EVA posts by Stephen Rynkiewicz

Chicago Tribune responsive design

For the 2014 “digitally remastered” relaunch, I determined must-haves to adapt a news design to e-commerce for the Tribune’s automotive, real estate and recruitment sections.

I broke down rebuilding tasks; programmed, tested and documented the new design, planned the site migration, presented the resdesign to the sales teams and advised them on how to migrate their search and display campaigns.

Rivet News Radio

A mobile app can reinvigorate an old medium, with the right strategy. Rivet News is a news-radio station for your cellphone, with settings to match content to listeners’ interests – and a skip button.

I joined the launch team as financial editor, to develop a format for business, technology and healthcare news relevant to a general audience. The app’s unique technology let me keep things simple for the casual listener, and fill the screen with details for the power user.

As a producer conducted interviews, gave anchors talking points and infused reports with expert sources like investor conference calls. I coached other producers on what events to watch for, such as earnings reports or trade shows, and how to approach them. I reviewed completed reports for accuracy, style and delivery, gave them headlines and assigned them keyword-rich metadata to reach the proper audience

Rivet has been a consistently popular news download, attracting 150,000 users in its launch phase. Business and technology gets chosen and shared on social media as often as government and politics. Metrics show listeners stick with to reports from start to finish, without touching the skip button.

Chicago Tribune articles

The business desk requires writers to relay corporate earnings with precision and consumer trends with brio – often at the same time. Rynkiewicz produced the Tribune’s first breaking business-news site, setting a pattern for reporting speed and staff collaboration.

This selection includes long-form features for print and how-to guides for the web.

Cutting vehicle weights has heavy impact

Best ways to get to the 2016 Chicago Auto Show

Innovative lighting illuminates the future of cars

Advanced safety features showcase the future of cars
Advanced safety features like automatic braking systems can lower the rate of accidents by 14 percent

Future of connected cars is now
Latest innovations in telematics offer less distractions, more advantages

Human connections guide social networks

Indeed.com adds resume search

Holiday bonus a dying tradition
More firms link pay, performance

Hotel caters to ‘Desperate Housewives’

What’s next for Sears, Kmart?

Search site combines the results of its rivals

Sears buys 3 suburban Kmart stores

Airline flights return to level before attacks

New spin for Rock ‘n’ Roll McDonald’s

Sears to sell tools for tots

Space made for TV craftsman at Sears