I am an award-winning journalist, editorial director, and creative strategist. I have helped some of the world's biggest brands build and execute transformative storytelling initiatives that have moved the needle, pushed boundaries, and compelled people to act. I have worked directly with Playboy, Amazon, Procter & Gamble, Netflix, Coca-Cola, WarnerMedia, iHeartRadio, YouTube, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, PUMA, and Nike, to name a few.
As a storyteller, I am obsessed with the art of virality; the syntax of a perfect sentence; the sexiness of a brand knowing itself. I’m more interested in creating culture than responding to it. My expertise includes editorial strategy, digital storytelling, story generation, interviewing and reporting, brand strategy, editorial operations, talent and press relations, and creative team leadership.
I am currently an Editorial Director at the San Francisco-based design and storytelling agency Godfrey Dadich Partners, where I develop editorial strategies and approaches, as well as lead on generation and execution of all forms of storytelling.
From 2011 to 2019, I held various editorial roles at Playboy magazine, ultimately becoming Executive Editor in 2017 and de facto Editor-in-Chief (and the first gay man to hold that title).
Under my leadership, the magazine expanded from a legacy title into a brand bible that informed corporate strategy across print products, digital content, and experiential marketing. During my tenure, Playboy published headline-grabbing features on Ezra Miller, Kylie Jenner, Maren Morris and Lizzo; named two transgender Playmates; and launched editorial partnerships with Alicia Garza (to examine voting rights in 2020), Jameela Jamil (to support the launch of I WEIGH) and Franklin Leonard's The Black List (to diagnose sex in cinema post-MeToo).
I recruited a diverse roster of new writers and contributing editors (including Molly Jong Fast, Dr. Debra W. Soh, Matt McGorry, Ashlee Marie Preston, and Virginia Heffernan), developed new digital-first content initiatives, and re-invested in Playboy's political coverage by appointing a White House Correspondent, Brian Karem, and Congressional Correspondent, Alex Thomas. Playboy's coverage resulted in a free speech lawsuit against the Trump administration in 2019.
My leadership and commitment to diverse voices and representative storytelling led to me being featured in The New York Times, Ad Age, NPR, the Pride Podcast, and Digiday. Playboy magazine received its first-ever GLAAD Media Award nomination during my tenure.
In 2019, I joined The Trevor Project to develop strategic, social impact partnerships with entertainment, sports, social media, gaming, and technology brands. I supported Trevor's mission to end LGBTQ youth suicide by raising more than $4 million for the non-profit in less than two years. I proudly played a pivotal role in launching Procter and Gamble's annual "Can't Cancel Pride" fundraiser with iHeartRadio, which has raised $8 million for LGBTQ communities, as well as Trevor's groundbreaking partnership with the NFL to support professional players who decide to come out.
A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, I cut my teeth in traditional media, writing and editing for an eclectic range of publications that included B2Bs (Realtor Magazine), regional publications (Chicago Magazine), nationally read newspapers (Chicago Tribune), weekly tabloids (TV Guide) and niche lifestyle pubs (Out). I have hundreds of bylines scattered across the internet (most of which are terribly archived, too).
I am a journalist of the New New era, a damn fine editor, a bleeding-heart creative, and an LGBTQ activist. Interested in working together? Drop me a line at ShaneMichael.Singh@gmail.com.