Steven Beschloss

Scottsdale, AZ USA
30 Years Experience

Professional Experience

An award-winning writer, editor and filmmaker, I have handled such diverse subjects as business and econmics, urban affairs and politics, travel, culture and education. I have lived and worked in New York (5 years), London (2 years), Helsinki (4 years), Moscow (6 months) and Los Angeles (7 years). I have contributed stories to The New York Times, The New Yorker, The New Republic, The Economist and its Economnist Intelligence Unit, Smithsonian, TV Guide, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Traveler, American Way and many other print and online outlets. My film work has been sold to more than two 20 countries and translated into more than a dozen languages. What else? I have authored two books, provide strategic consulting and work with executives to expand their thought leadership by crafting op-eds, articles, essays and other content. Check out my website for more: www.stevenbeschloss.com.

Expertise

Director 20 YearsEditor 25 YearsWriter 32 Years

Specialty

Business (general) 25 YearsInternational 20 YearsTravel 10 Years

Industries

Magazine - Large Consumer/National magazines 25 YearsNewspaper - Local/Regional 30 YearsIndependent Feature Film 15 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

  • The Economist/Economist Intelligence Unit (10+)
  • Arizona Republic (6-10)
  • Forward Magazine/Global Thought Leader (6-10)
  • Four Seasons Magazine (6-10)
  • The Ritz-Carlton magazine (3-5)
  • Private Clubs (3-5)
  • American Way Magazine (3-5)
  • Smithsonian Magazine online (3-5)
  • PARADE Magazine (1-2)
  • Variety (1-2)
  • The New Republic (1-2)
  • The New Yorker (1-2)
  • entrepreneur.com (1-2)
  • Lexus Magazine (1-2)
  • M Life Magazine (1-2)
  • National Geographic Traveler (3-5)

Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

  • nonprofit science foundation (10+)
  • international luxury real estate ad firm (3-5)
  • Arizona State University (10+)

Awards

*Outstanding Profile, American Society of Journalists and Authors, runnerup, 2010 *Silver Folio: Eddie award, The Ritz-Carlton magazine, for top overall editorial, (managing executive editor) *Gold Mercury Award, documentary/ promo, Snapshot:The Making of a Fashion Photo Shoot for The Ritz-Carlton Magazine," (writer/director/producer) *"Paris" selected for feature competition of Tribeca Film Festival, (co-writer/ co-producer) *The Miracle" premiered at Pompidou Centre in Paris and first broadcast by ARTE in France and Germany (writer, on-camera lead, filmed in Russia) *Best Feature, Natl. Assoc. of Area Bus. Pubs for Crain's NY Business, "A Broken Trust: Blacks in Corporate New York" (writer) *Nominated for Pulitzer Prize by editors of The Virginian Pilot for "The South's Broken Promise," a 25,000-word series, (writer) *Third Prize, Feature Reporting, Southern Journalism Awards, Institute for Southern Studies (writer) *UPI Journalist of the Year in Virginia, 1988

Associations

American Society of Journalists and Authors

Other Work History

Managing Executive Editor, McMurry 2005-2008 Managing Director, Media Wave Consulting, 2001-2005 Managing Director, Wide Eye Pictures, 1997-2003 Senior Editor at Norman Lear's Channels Magazine Staff Writer, Crain's NY Business Special Projects Writer, The Virginian-Pilot

Foreign Language Skills

Finnish

Work Permits & Visas

American and European passports

Editorial Direction

"The Glow of the New"
(The Ritz-Carlton 3/9/2007)
Assigned and edited this feature exploration of the new China, in art, architecture and urban development, from one of the leading experts on China
Art of the Possible
(6 2/1/2009)
"Circus Spectacular"
(The Ritz-Carlton Magazine 3/1/2008)
Assigned and edited this look at the inside workings and global empire of Cirque du Soleil--and how it has revived a fading tradition with a universal sense of drama, passion and death-defying hard work.

Video/film/audio Production

Arctic Dreams
(1/1/2008)
A destination teaser--to inspire travelers to head north of the Arctic Circle. Written and directed.
Boulevard of Dreams: An Intro
(9/1/2008)
Wrote and directed this video promo for a feature film, the story of two foreign actors trying to make it in Hollywood. Based on a true story, played by the actual actors who are the biggest stars in their home country.
"SNAPSHOT: The Making of a Fashion Photo Shoot"
(The Ritz-Carlton Magazine/McMurry 11/1/2006)
Directed, produced and wrote this award-winning, four-minute digital video/documentary that shows how a magazine fashion photo shoot is created by an art team. Seen here in Windows Media format. QT available.
"Sarajevo Rising: A City's Recovery Through Film"
(Lexus Magazine web exclusive 2/1/2009)
Images of Sarajevo and the Sarajevo Film Festival combined with audio commentary from award-winning Indian film critic Meenakshi Shedde, based on my interview with Shedde.
The Creative Pivot
(Economist Group/Economist Intelligence Unit 4/29/2015)
Developed and written by Steven Beschloss, The Economist Intelligence Unit takes a look at the histories of five cities-Austin, Berlin, Mexico City, Mumbai and Seoul-to explore the conditions that allowed each city's creative economy to take root and blossom.

More Work Samples

Secrets of a Fine Finnish City
(National Geographic Traveler 4/1/2011)
"Go Now" column on Turku, Finland, the 2011 European Capital of Culture
CityCenter: "Icon in the Making"
(MGM Mirage/M Magazine 12/15/2009)
An inside look at the origin and inspiration for CityCenter in Las Vegas, based on an interview with MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren.
"Helsinki Postcard: Finland's Thaw"
(The New Republic 6/9/2026)
"China's Soft Underbelly"
(Forward Magazine 6/1/2013)
A China feature looking at why and how age, skilled labor and polluted water threaten the country's economy and political stability.
Cinema: A World of Festivals
(The Ritz-Carlton Magazine 3/1/2009)
A brief roundup of film festivals from around the world, including Tribeca in New York, L.A., Cannes, Moscow and Shanghai.
"Literati: A Tour of Great Authors' Homes"
(The Ritz-Carlton Magazine 1/1/2009)
A brief roundup of inspiring literary homes, from London to Moscow, Key West to L.A.
"New President, New Path for Finland"
(San Francisco Chronicle 6/9/2026)
"Economic Trends Across the Decades"
(Entrepreneur Magazine Web Exclusive 12/12/2008)
An economic trend piece that places the current economic troubles into a historical context, decade by decade, beginning with the 1930s.
Taking Iraq Private
(WSJ 3/27/2003)
WSJ op-ed
"A Tour of the World's Most Beautiful Train Stations"
(The Ritz-Carlton magazine 8/1/2008)
A brief roundup of great train stations, from Istanbul to Berlin, Kyoto to London, Washington to L.A.
"Taking It In Stride"
(Vim & Vigor 8/1/2007)
A first-person feature, from a father's perspective, on dealing with my daughter's type 1 diabetes.

General

Russia's Hermitage Museum, Reinvented
(Four Seasons Magazine 1/1/2013)
Learn how St. Petersburg maintains and expands one of the world's largest and oldest museums--with help from friends in Russia, New York, London and beyond. This feature story is about reinventing an international brand to make its identity contemporary and relevant.
Arizona's Valley of the Sun
(American Way 11/15/2010)
Cover Story on Arizona: There's an otherworldly appeal deep in the Arizona desert, but it's not a mirage.
Moscow Cover Feature: "Moscow in Motion"
(The Ritz-Carlton magazine 7/1/2007)
Narrative travel feature exploring the dramatic emergence of a luxury lifestyle in Moscow, Russia.
"A Brief Troubled Life of a Young Lee Harvey Oswald in New York City"
(The New Republic 11/10/2013)
Adapted excerpt from my recent book "The Gunman and His Mother" exploring Lee Harvey Oswald and his fractured family background.
London Travel Feature: "London Rising"
(The Ritz-Carlton magazine 3/1/2007)
Narrative feature describing a reinvigorated London, in art, architecture, dining and more.
Moscow's Literary Life
(Four Seasons Magazine 3/1/2012)
A lead feature about the influence of Russian writers on Moscow, past and present, and the places they called home.
Dreamland
(Four Seasons Magazine 6/10/2014)
A portrait of Los Angeles told through profiles of six LA residents who are passionate about their work and their city.
"Camera Guy: Cutting-Edge Cinematographer Matthew Libatique Tells How Everything Is Illuminated"
(Lexus Magazine 2/1/2009)
Profile of cinematographer Matthew Libatique (Iron Man, Requiem for a Dream, Inside Man).
Future Cities: Driving Growth Through the Creative Economy
(The Economist Group/Economist Intelligence Unit 4/29/2015)
A digital package looking at the creative economy of five future-minded cities and its impact on their economic growth and urban development. This series is told through profiles of Austin, Berlin, Mexico City, Mumbai and Seoul.
CityCenter's Heavy Burden: Massive MGM Mirage complex aims to revitalize Las Vegas
(Variety 3/5/2010)
A look at the newly opened $8.5 billion real estate development of high-end hotels, condos, restaurants and shopping -- and its ambitious aim to reboot Las Vegas.
Can These Men Fix the Deficit?
(PARADE Magazine 7/4/2010)
A 600-word Q&A with Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, the co-chairs of the President's Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Ran in PARADE's Intelligence Report.
"Marimekko: The Expression of Joy"
(Four Seasons Magazine 10/1/2009)
A featured profile of the iconic fashion design firm from Finland and the poignant story of its young CEO, a former banker who suffered a brain tumor before he acquired Marimekko.
"Heart & Soul: Greg Mortenson is on a Mission to Build Schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan"
(Four Seasons Magazine 3/25/2009)
Feature profile of Greg Mortenson, the bestselling author of Three Cups of Tea and 2009 nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Man With a Mallet
(American Way Magazine 7/15/2009)
Feature profiling Jerry Stark, one of America's only professional croquet players--and one of the best in the world. How did this former auto assembly worker make it happen? He followed his dream.
When Lee Harvey Oswald Shot the President, His Mother Tried to Take Center Stage
(Smithsonian 11/20/2014)
This is an adapted excerpt of Steven's best-selling Kindle Single, "The Gunman and His Mother."
Object of Interest: Rube Goldberg Machines
(The New Yorker 7/19/2013)
This is a history of Rube Goldberg machines and a profile of the mad inventor himself. His work followed the basic notion of using maximum effort to achieve minimal results.