Eric Bender

617.244.2676, ebender00 ((at)) yahoo.com, 86 Greenlawn Avenue, Newton, MA 02459

Strengths

• Telling compelling stories about advances in science, technology and medicine
• Conceptualizing and creating award-winning publications, interactive web features, videos and other educational and persuasive content
• Enhancing strategic planning and execution for a broad range of public relations and public outreach efforts
• Coordinating collaborative projects with multiple stakeholders and outside contractors
• Building and enhancing websites that exploit emerging technologies to further organizational missions

Professional experience

Communications consultant. 2008 to present, Newton, MA

· Writing, editing, publications, web publishing and public relations services for Massachusetts Institute of Technology and others

Associate Director of Communications and Public Affairs (starting as Manager of Publications), Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. 2004 to 2008, Cambridge, MA

While supervising numerous communications and public outreach programs, accomplishments included…

• Enhancing coverage in top media outlets; Whitehead typically received more coverage per principal investigator than its peer institutions
• Strengthening Whitehead’s web presence, adding video offerings, animations, podcasts, RSS news feeds and tailored content for special topics such as stem cell research
• Refocusing Paradigm magazine (wi.mit.edu/news/paradigm) and producing award-winning issues at significantly lowered cost
• Creating annual report that received highly positive reviews from its audiences
• Working closely with Development group, producing publications and other supporting materials that aided record fundraising accomplishments
• Writing key documents ranging from Whitehead Director speeches to award nominations
• Launching Whitehead’s 25^th anniversary planning and supervising well-received anniversary projects including special events, videos, time capsule and MIT Museum exhibit viewed by more than 80,000 visitors

Editorial consultant. 2002 to 2004, Newton, MA

· Writing, editing, e-learning course creation and web publishing services for Education Development Center, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Technology Review, U.S. Distance Learning Association and others

Editor, technologyreview.com, MIT. 2000 to 2002, Cambridge, MA

• Responsible for award-winning MIT web site, tripling site traffic in six months
• Planned and implemented strategy for content, information architecture and design for complete re-launch from barebones site, accomplished within three months
• Assigned and edited high-viewership stories on biotechnology, information technology, nanotechnology and other emerging technologies
• Added web enhancements including forums and how-it-works animations

Executive Editor, PC World Magazine (starting as East Coast Editor). 1986 to 2000, Boston, MA

• Reporting to editorial director, played significant role in PC World's rise to world's most widely read computer magazine, with paid circulation of 1.25 million
• Proposed and created cover stories, columns and special reports, achieving high ratings in detailed monthly quantitative readership studies
• Created some of PC World's first online-only content and made major contributions to pcworld.com enhancements, including launching and running award-winning online news group
• Managed partnership projects, including quarterly consumer publication produced jointly with Family Circle

· Exercised top editorial responsibility for successful demographic edition of PC World with paid circulation of 200,000 and renewal rate higher than the main edition's (adding this circulation allowed PC World to surpass its closest rival)

Related experience

· Writing, editing and creating printed and online material on marine research, environmental issues and other topics

Education

• M.S. in Journalism with major in Science Communication, Boston University, Boston, MA; B.A., Goddard College, Plainfield, VT