John Casey
Editor-in-Chief, FreePress Directory
With over two decades of experience at the intersection of journalism and technology, John Casey leads FreePress Directory’s editorial vision and content strategy. As Editor-in-Chief, he oversees the platform’s verification standards and drives innovations in AI-powered news distribution.
Professional Background
Before joining FreePress Directory, John served as Digital News Director at The Washington Register, where he spearheaded the paper’s transformation into a digital-first news organization. Under his leadership, the Register’s online readership grew by 250% while maintaining the highest standards of journalistic integrity.
Prior to his role at the Register, John held senior editorial positions at Digital Forefront and Nexus Online Media, where he specialized in developing automated news verification systems and real-time political news delivery platforms. His innovative approach to combining traditional journalism with emerging technologies earned him the American Digital Press Association’s Excellence in Digital Leadership Award in 2022.
Innovation in News Distribution
Throughout his career, John has been a pioneering force in modernizing news distribution methods. At the Register, he led the development of one of the first AI-assisted news verification systems, which reduced fact-checking time by 55% while improving accuracy rates. This groundbreaking work laid the foundation for many of the automated verification technologies used in newsrooms today.
At FreePress Directory, John has revolutionized the press release distribution industry by implementing:
- Advanced machine learning algorithms for content verification
- Real-time trend analysis and story matching
- Automated credibility scoring systems
- Intelligent distribution networks that adapt to audience engagement patterns
- Comprehensive analytics tools for measuring story impact
Academic Background and Research
John holds a Master’s degree in Digital Journalism from Northwestern University and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Stanford University. His research on the integration of artificial intelligence in newsrooms has been published in the Columbia Journalism Review and the Reuters Institute Digital News Report.
Industry Leadership
As a recognized thought leader in digital journalism, John frequently speaks at major industry conferences and contributes to discussions about the future of news distribution. He serves on the advisory boards of:
- The Online Digital News Association
- The Media Innovators Conclave
- The International Digital Press Technology Council
- The Digital News Society Expansion Initiative
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, John has received numerous accolades for his contributions to digital journalism:
- American Digital Press Association Excellence in Digital Leadership Award (2022)
- Digital Key Foundation Fellowship for Innovation in Journalism (2020)
- Society of Web Media Professional’s Digital Innovation Award (2019)
- Media Technology Review’s 40 Under 40 (2012)
Vision for the Future
At FreePress Directory, John continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in news distribution. His vision centers on creating a more efficient, transparent, and accurate news ecosystem that serves both traditional media outlets and emerging digital platforms.
Under his leadership, FreePress Directory has become the fastest-growing press release distribution platform in North America, with a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of journalistic integrity while embracing technological innovation.
Thought Leadership
John regularly contributes to industry publications and academic journals, sharing insights on:
- The role of AI in modern journalism
- Best practices for automated news verification
- The future of press release distribution
- Digital transformation in newsrooms
- Ethics in automated journalism
Speaking Engagements
John is available for speaking engagements on topics including:
- Digital transformation in media
- AI and automation in journalism
- The future of news distribution
- Innovation in press release syndication
- Building trust in digital news
Connect with John
For speaking engagements, media inquiries, or professional connections, John can be reached through FreePress Directory’s media relations team or via his professional social media profiles.
