Michael A. Silver
Michael A. SilverEducation
M.B.A., Stanford University Graduate School of Business 1985. Concentrations in marketing and strategy.
M.S., Columbia University School of Journalism 1976. Recipient of the school’s top award for achievement in editing, the Christopher U. Light Prize.
B.A., University of Pennsylvania 1975. Political science major. Managing editor of campus newspaper. Founder and general manager of campus TV network.
Experience
Tribune Company (1985 - 2007)
Served in a variety of product development, product management and strategy positions in Tribune’s publishing, broadcasting and interactive divisions.
Joined Tribune as the start-up general manager of an interactive kiosk network—and concluded Tribune career as VP/Development, responsible for identifying “next generation” media opportunities. Highlights included:
As a corporate planning manager in 1990, identified America Online (then called Quantum Computer Services) as a worthy investment opportunity for Tribune, and worked with Steve Case and his bankers to champion the opportunity to Tribune management. Tribune’s small investment prior to AOL’s IPO turned out to be one of the most lucrative venture investment ever made by a newspaper company and served as an impetus to develop local online services in Tribune’s local markets on AOL’s platform.
From 1991 through 1996, held a series of management positions at Tribune’s newspaper syndication arm, Tribune Media Services. Responsible for launching, marketing and maintaining columns, political cartoons and comic strips created by nationally-recognized talent. Launched new services based on relationships with other content providers such as Weather Channel and ABC News. Initiated new market research techniques in an industry segment that generally shunned research. Expanded offerings beyond traditional print features to include multimedia services such as audiocasts and online interactive features.
Beginning with 1996 appointment as general manager of Tribune Interactive Inc, was charged with building central services group to support web sites produced by Tribune’s newspapers and television stations. Managed Tribune end of “Digital City” joint venture with AOL and spearheaded trials of interactive services with Microsoft.
Served as VP/New Media at Tribune Broadcasting during the dot-com boom, overseeing development of interactive initiatives at Tribune’s TV stations. Accomplishments included spearheading of partnership with New York-based start-up Feedroom to provide online video news. Negotiated with entrepreneurs and other large broadcasting groups to create a digital datacasting consortium.Shortly after Tribune’s merger with Times Mirror in 2000, returned to Tribune Interactive to manage a diverse set of operations as VP/Development. Directed development of registration and e-mail services, privacy policies, metrics analysis, targeted advertising programs, mobile trials and breaking news services as well as prototypes for new products. Negotiated relationships with a wide variety of partners and vendors, including Google, Yahoo, and Tacoda.
Rejoined corporate development staff in 2003 to direct “beyond-the-web” development, with special emphasis on mobile and broadband opportunities. Assist individual business units in management of development projects in areas such as wireless and online video. Major projects included 18 months as interim general manager of Zap2it.com, a Tribune-owned web site with 3 million unique visitors. Served as Tribune’s representative on AP’s digital advisory committee.
Recipient of the Tribune Management Award, the company’s highest award for individual achievement, in 1996. Elected Newspaper Association of America’s annual “New Media Pioneer” in 2002.
WPBT/Miami 1981 – 1983
Joined local PBS station as on-air reporter/producer for its pioneering daily business news program The Nightly Business Report. Helped expand program into nationwide syndication as its first national assignment editor, responsible for assigning staff reporters and working with contributors from other PBS stations.
Miami Herald 1978 – 1981. Reporter.
Orlando Sentinel 1976 – 1978. Reporter.
Dow Jones & Co. 1976. Copy editor.
mike@silverchicago.com
312.608.0119