About Us

We're sure you're all wondering how the magic of the Mediabistro Circus blog is conjured. By an assortment of talented freaks of course! Although none of us are bearded, can tame lions, have super human strength, dance with a tutu-wearing bear, or drive a tiny car, we do have the ability to amaze your senses with our blogging, and that's why you're here. But if any of us learn how to eat fire in the coming weeks, you'll be the first to read about it.

Behold, the freaks!

Carmen Scheidel, Director, Education, Events, and Multimedia Content
[send message]

Carmen oversees mediabistro's educational offerings and video on demand content -- all in the name of helping media people learn new tricks. She began her career as an editor at a monthly arts and culture magazine, and spent seven years freelancing as an editor and writer. She has written about books and music for Time Out New York; food, health, and the restaurant industry for Restaurant Business magazine; literary fiction for Publisher's Weekly; and music for Acoustic Guitar. She has edited for CNN/Money.com; UBS AG; and Pearson educational publishers. Her fiction has been included alongside the works of James Baldwin, Zora Neale Hurston, and Langston Hughes in the anthology "Beloved Harlem: A Literary Tribute to Black America's Most Famous Neighborhood, From the Classics to The Contemporary." As an instructor, she has taught Essay Writing and The Mechanics of Writing at the New School, and has been a guest lecturer at Rutgers University. Carmen's favorite circus performer: Lions and tigers and bears, oh my.

Kirsten Cluthe, Producer Conferences and Special Events
[send message]

Kirsten joined Mediabistro after a brief stint in Beijing working on the Olympics and a longer tenure at GE, where she was charged with creating events that inspired innovation and cultural change at one of the world’s largest companies. Madly at work producing Mediabistro’s first conference, she is on an impassioned quest for the coolest ideas, speakers and innovators in Media and Technology. When she’s not in New York at work or at play, she freelances as a travel writer and blogger, and can be found in a window seat indulging in her iPod playlists. Kirsten's favorite circus performer: Elephant on a tight-rope.

Amanda Barrett, Associate Director, Marketing for Events & Education
[send message]

Amanda is a word nerd in a sea of geeks. Her job is to make sure people like you know about mediabistro.com courses and events. Prior incarnations of Amanda include Academic Amanda (working, teaching and/or studying at Columbia, Cooper Union, CUNY, and NYU) and Art Administrator Amanda (at the Brooklyn Academy of Music). She studied theater at Barnard College, Columbia University, and received an M.A. and M. Phil. in Performance Studies from NYU. She likes outsider art, freeform radio, and all things Brooklyn. Amanda's favorite circus performer: Rodeo Monkey

Seamus Condron, Community Manager/Online Maven
[send message]

Seamus is a writer and amateur humorist who is noted for accomplishing the least of anyone on Earth with his given talents. After an unsuccessful stint doing impersonations in front of disinterested family members from age 5-10, Seamus had equally ugly results as a stand-up comic. When not blogging or being the office's comic foil, he strategizes (meaning reads lots of blogs) online community and social media, and helps manage medibistro.com's subscription products. Seamus is an uber tech geek, and uses that talent not to score chicks as one would assume, but to freelance for CNET Networks as an online course instructor. Seamus' favorite things include the Red Sox, and injecting lines from Airplane into conversations whenever possible. He has no girlfriend or pets. Seamus' favorite circus performer: Krusty.

Megan Diamondstein, Events Coordinator
[send message]

Megan Diamondstein comes to mediabistro.com, having worn the hats of actor, music journalist, and editorial assistant since graduating from Wesleyan University in 2006. During a lengthy stint as "Learntern" in the Education department, Megan discovered her inner Host. Putting her inner culture vulture to good use, Megan eagerly joins the Events team. In her spare time, Megan enjoys rowdy new-wave dance parties, traveling, and judging others based on what they listen to. Megan's favorite circus performer: The high-wire acrobat.