Brian Steinberg

New York, NY USA
Website: http://adage.com
Contact

Professional Experience

A well-versed reporter and writer with a specialty in media, entertainment and marketing/advertising, I also have experience covering workplace issues, and broad pop culture trends. I am Senior TV Editor at Variety and have served stints as the TV Editor of Advertising Age, the lead Advertising Columnist for The Wall Street Journal and lead U.S. media business reporter for Dow Jones Newswires. Among the topics I've covered: the travails of launching "Gossip Girl"; brave new experiments in interactive TV commercials; the rise of Jimmy Fallon to NBC's "Tonight Show"; and Batman's sanity. Keep me in mind when you want someone to get behind the scenes of how a product or piece of content was created; for profiles of interesting subjects; and for clever and unique examinations of books, movies, music and TV. I am also interested in writing about careers and workplace issues; cultural affairs; features or columns; and book, restaurant and music reviews.

Expertise

Writer
22 Years
Reporter
22 Years

Specialty

Arts & Humanities
22 Years
Business (general)
17 Years
Music
22 Years

Industries


Newspaper - National
5 Years
Newspaper - Local/Regional
2 Years
Wire Service
6 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

22 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

Examiner.com (10+), Salon (1-2), The Wall Street Journal (1-2), Boston Globe (1-2), Consumers' Digest (1-2), Country Standard Time (1-2), delight! (1-2)

Other Work History

Senior TV Editor, Variety, 2013-Present Television Editor-Advertising Age, May 2007 to 2013 Freelance Writer: Work appeared in publiciations such asThe Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, USA Weekend, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post and The New York Times, as well as several trade publications. May 2007-to Present, June 1993 to May 1997 Staff Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, April 2003-May 2007 Special Writer/Staff Reporter, Dow Jones Newswires, June 1997 to April 2003 Staff Reporter, The (Annapolis, Md.) Capital., February 1995 to April 1997 (approx.)

Foreign Language Skills

Some French

Computer Skills

MS Word

References

Available upon request

Awards

Shared in Best of Business award from Society of American Business Editors and Writers for real-time, breaking news coverage of AOL-Time Warner merger, 2001 Named to TJFR Blue Chip Newsroom, 2000 Second place, feature writing, National Headliner Awards

Associations

Society of American Business Editors and Writers

Showcase

General

"TV Ad Rules Are Challenged By 'Pod' Busters"
(The Wall Street Journal 11/21/2005)
An interesting look at new ways to refashion TV's venerable commercial break as technology gives consumers more power to avoid TV advertising.
"In Latest Shock, Howard Stern Seeks Staid Advertisers
(The Wall Street Journal 4/22/2003)
A feature article on shock-jock Howard Stern soliciting sponsorships from more genteel advertisers
NBC, CBS Have Conflicting Visions of Broadcast Future
(Advertising Age 6/22/2009)
You'd think two of the most venerable broadcast TV outlets would be of a like mind about the future of TV. They aren't.
"Look-Up In The Sky! Product Placement!"
(The Wall Street Journal 4/18/2006)
A feature on comic-book publishers looking for ways to put advertisers' products in the four-color panels of their super-hero titles
"Law & Order" Boss Dick Wolf Ponders The Future of TV Ads
(The Wall Street Journal 10/18/2006)
An interview with Law & Order creator Dick Wolf about TV and TV advertising
"The Commercial's Worst Nightmare"
(The Boston Globe 11/18/2007)
A colorful look at some of the new ideas the media industry is devising to stop people from fast-forwarding past commercials
Ronan Farrow is a bust
(Salon 6/12/2014)
A look at the rocky start to the much-anticipated MSNBC program, "Ronan Farrow Daily"
Holy Bats in the Belfry, Batman!!
(The Wall Street Journal 4/5/2008)
Is Batman crazy or sane? An off-kilter interpretation of the venerable character in DC Comics prompted this WSJ essay looking at the philosophical basis for many popular comics characters.
"Ads Keep Spreading, But Are Consumers Immune?"
(Advertising Age 11/19/2007)
A look at the ongoing problem of "ad creep," or advertising that continues to winnow its way into places where we'd rather not see it. The latest twist? Consumers growing more accustomed to ads on the Internet may welcome such stuff in more traditional venues.
Curious George: Endangered Species?
(Variety 3/25/2014)
An analysis piece looking at challenges digital distribution has brought to kids' TV
Ad Nauseam: TV Ads Risk Driving Consumers Away
(Advertising Age 12/1/2008)
In a tough economy, marketers began to run more of the same old ads rather than creating new ones - not without consequences.
"King of Nothing Takes On Web..."
(The Wall Street Journal 5/19/2004)
An interview with Jerry Seinfeld about the creative process
'Saturday Night Live' Acts as Ad Agency for Pepsi
(Advertising Age 2/5/2009)
Behind the scenes of why NBC's "Saturday Night Live" agreed to create ads for Pepsi and why doing so marks a big change in the TV business.
Jimmy Fallon: Worthy Successor To The 'Tonight Show' Throne?
(Variety 8/20/2013)
A profile of Jimmy Fallon as he contemplated his journey to NBC's "Tonight"
Product Ads Gain More Screen Time
(Boston Globe 7/28/2009)
A look at how product placement in TV programs has grown more intrusive as the media industry reacts to a horrible economy