Seamus Byrne has joined MediaConnect as Influencing Editor-at-Large to reboot the brand’s technology media and communications vertical.
A well-known freelance technology journalist, Seamus Byrne produces the weekly technology, games and pop culture podcast, Byteside.
Established in 2000, MediaConnect helps PR professionals and journalists to connect with each other. The company’s brands include Influencing, PRWire, Journo, and the IT Journalism Awards.
MediaConnect Founder and CEO Phil Sim said “Way back when I launched the MediaConnect business in 2000, we began with a website called ITJourno. I’d been a technology journalist and I thought there was a need for a website that made it easier for tech journalists to work with the PR community and vice versa.
“Over the years, our business has grown and diversified. We scaled beyond tech and now do all kinds of cool, clever techie stuff in media engagement and monitoring. However, the ITJourno community is still where my heart lies,” Sim said.
“So in the year where we will celebrate our 20th anniversary, we’re going back to the future. We’re relaunching ITJourno as Influencing Technology and have appointed Seamus Byrne as Editor-at-Large to drive the initiative.”
Byrne will take on the role in a part-time basis and will continue to produce the Byteside podcast and freelance journalism.
“I decided to reach out to Seamus after he posted a tweet offering to mentor any young tech journalists who might be looking for a break, and I have always believed that ITJourno was a positive force in building community amongst tech journalists and communicators,” said Sim.
“In conjunction with our Awards it helped to promote good journalism and media relations, I’ve had a desire to rebirth that for quite a while now, and after starting a conversation with Seamus it’s something he is also passionate about.
“So I’m really excited to have Seamus join us. A refresh and increase in content will be accompanied by various upgrades to the journalist side of Influencing, and we’ll also be launching a new newsletter. We have the IT Journalism Awards coming up quickly and would also like to rebirth our Tech Leaders event this year.”
