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Brian Smallwood directs digital news strategy at Griffin Media as its Executive Producer of Digital Content, a role that places him at the center of how local journalism adapts to online audiences. An award-winning reporter and newsroom leader with close to two decades of experience, he joined Griffin Media in 2017 and now helps shape the outlet’s digital storytelling and audience engagement.
What he does
In his current position, Smallwood oversees the production and presentation of news across websites, apps and social platforms. His work bridges traditional broadcast workflows and modern digital practices, aiming to make journalism more accessible on phones and other screens.
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- Editorial leadership: coordinating digital teams and setting priorities for online coverage.
- Audience strategy: tailoring formats and distribution to meet changing reader behavior.
- Multiplatform production: guiding how video, text and social posts are integrated into daily reporting.
- Training and innovation: supporting newsroom adoption of new tools and storytelling techniques.
Smallwood’s background spans both television and digital media, giving him a familiarity with broadcast rhythms as well as the demands of real-time online publishing. That combination is increasingly valuable as local outlets compete for attention on social feeds and news aggregators.
Why this matters now
Newsrooms are under pressure to deliver credible information quickly while maintaining journalistic standards. Leaders who understand both legacy and digital production influence how communities receive updates on elections, weather emergencies, and local government decisions.
Under Smallwood’s direction, Griffin Media’s digital output is positioned to respond faster to breaking stories and to experiment with formats that keep readers informed on the go. For audiences, that means news presented with an eye toward clarity, speed and platform fit.
His tenure at Griffin, beginning in 2017, and his recognition as an award-winning journalist underline a track record of adapting reporting to new formats without abandoning core newsroom values.
