#01_introductions

Hi all! I'm Zach Shaw, and I'm thrilled to be part of the Gildre community!

About Me
• Based in Washington, DC (recently moved from Chicago — shoutout to the best skyline in the country)
• Have lived in Miami, St. Louis, New York, Minneapolis, and Chicago
• Studied Communication in college and launched my career at CBS News in New York before jumping into the world of strategic comms
• Passionate about storytelling, media equity, and helping people shape and share their own narratives
What I’m Working On
• Building a media company from the ground up — think digital journalism, podcasting, and visual storytelling, all under one big, bold masthead
• Launching a DC-based nonprofit aimed at civic innovation and youth leadership — more details coming soon!
• Collaborating with other creatives and changemakers to shape public discourse and reimagine what media can look like
How I Can Help
• Media relations pro with 10+ years working alongside top journalists, publicists, and comms strategists
• Happy to make intros to reporters, editors, or outlets in almost any market or beat
• Skilled at refining messaging, building narratives, and making sure your story doesn’t just get told — it gets heard
Where I Could Use Support
• Advice on scaling a media startup (especially operational models or monetization ideas)
• Connections to fellow founders or media makers in the digital journalism/audio space
• Insight into nonprofit growth strategy, especially in the first year of launch
• Recommendations for DC-based collaborators, advisors, or even just great coworking spots
Looking forward to learning from all of you — and hopefully helping you along the way, too!

Here's my personal calendar if you'd like to set up a meeting: https://calendar.app.google/h3trwtai6skjXMks5