Editorial Staff

Valerie Lopez 
Publisher

Lopez joined the Navigator as editorial director in October 2011 and was named publisher in December 2012. She currently serves as the vice president of media research at Cision and is a regular host of the company's popular social media webinar series. Most recently, Lopez served as director of media research. She was previously the manager of Internet media and led the effort in compiling research data for over 10,000 influential blogs listed in Cision’s media database. Lopez holds bachelor’s degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Gender Studies from Indiana University.

Email  valerie.lopez@cision.com
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Beth Blanchard
Co-Editor

Blanchard was named co-editor in December 2012, and previously served as senior editor since November 2010. She officially joined the staff as a contributing editor in January 2010. In addition to her role with the Navigator, Blanchard is the manager of Internet, Broadcast and East Asian media research at Cision. She holds bachelor’s degrees in English and Political Science from Loyola University Chicago.

Email beth.blanchard@cision.com
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Anna Marevska
Co-Editor

Marevska was named co-editor in December 2012. She was previously the features editor since March 2010, responsible for editing spotlight feature articles. In addition to her position with the Navigator, she is manager of print media research at Cision and the editor for FashionFilesmag.com. Marevska has also edited the now-defunct AZPNews.com, has contributed to Pioneer Press, and interned at the newsroom of the Tribune Company’s WGN-TV.

Email anna.marevska@cision.com

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Gina Joseph
Social Media Coordinator, Staff Writer & Features Writer

Joseph was named Social Media Coordinator in October 2011 and is the face behind the Navigator's Twitter handle. She is also a staff writer covering media industry news and writes in-depth features on new media outlets. Joseph joined the staff as a features writer in March 2008 and was quickly promoted to the position of staff writer. She is also social media community manager at Cision. Prior to joining Cision in May 2007, she was a marketing specialist for a real estate company in her home state of Michigan. 

Email gina.joseph@cision.com
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Jenny Wittman
Senior Editor & Features Writer

Wittman was named senior editor in early 2013. She is responsible for vetting the media updates and additionally edits the daily posts and feature articles. She assumed the role of associate features editor in April 2012 and joined the Navigator in June 2010 as a copy editor. She boarded Cision in March 2008 as a media researcher on the broadcast team. In March 2010, she was promoted to senior media researcher. Prior to joining Cision, she was an editorial researcher at BG + H Publishing. Wittman also served as senior writer for The Western Courier. She holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Western Illinois University.

Email jenny.wittman@cision.com
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Stone Hansard
Associate Features Editor

Hansard is a features editor for the Navigator, and previously served as a features writer. He additionally serves as supervisor of Internet media research at Cision and is a contributing writer for ChicagoMusic.org. Hansard holds a bachelor's degree in Media & Communications from Florida State University, where he served as a music director for WVFS-FM from 2008 to 2010.

Email stone.hansard@cision.com
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Amanda Belo
Staff Writer & Features Writer

Belo joined Cision in 2010 as an intern and then as a media researcher on the broadcast team. She also joined the Navigator as a staff writer. In addition to writing daily posts covering media industry news, she is responsible for researching radio outlets and contacts to maintain the accuracy of Cision's media database. She holds a masters degree in Public Relations and Advertising from DePaul University, as well as a bachelor's in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Email amanda.belo@cision.com
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Aaron Roemig
Staff Writer & Copy Editor

Roemig joined the Navigator as a staff writer in September 2011. He is responsible for posting and editing daily media updates. He is also a senior media researcher for magazine team at Cision. He was previously an on-air announcer for KFMW-FM in Waterloo, IA from 2004 to 2006. Before that he served as production and community affairs director for KRUI-FM in Iowa City, IA from 2001 to 2004. Roemig graduated from the University of Iowa in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in Anthropology.

Email aaron.roeming@cison.com

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Emily Zimmerman
Staff Writer & Copy Editor

Zimmerman joined the Navigator as a staff writer in August 2011. She is responsible for posting and editing daily media updates. She came to Cision in October 2009 as a media researcher, and was promoted to senior researcher in September 2012. Zimmerman holds a bachelor's degree in French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree in business from North Park University.

Email emily.zimmerman@cision.com
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Peter Benincasa
Staff Writer & Features Writer

Benincasa joined the Navigator as a features writer in September 2012 and was named staff writer in early 2013. He joined Cision in July 2011 as an Internet media researcher. He is also an independent consultant editor for Great Kids, Inc., a nonprofit specializing in educational programs for families with young children. Benincasa received a bachelor's degree in English from Skidmore College in 2010.