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I have directed editorial teams at Fodor's Travel and Micato Safaris. Along the way I won a Lowell Thomas Award, the highest honor in travel journalism, for my own writing.
I am an improver. I can make your content better, which includes helping your team improve their own AI-assisted writing.
Professional Experience
Editorial Director
Micato Safaris · March 2011–Present
- Set and enforce editorial voice standards across all marketing, digital, and client-facing content, partnering directly with senior leadership to protect brand trust for a luxury operator voted #1 World's Best Safari Outfitter by Travel+Leisure a record 10 times.
- Write and manage weekly eBlasts, blog posts, and client-facing documents; direct social media programming.
- Regular presenter at team meetings, covering the mechanics of good storytelling, selling the benefit instead of the feature, and other techniques for closing sales.
Editorial Director
Fodor's Travel, Random House · September 2004–September 2008
- Directed a team of seven editors producing 40+ guidebooks annually, including market leader Fodor's New York City and 2008 Lowell Thomas Award winner National Parks of the West.
- Hired and developed editorial staff and successfully advocated for their promotions, maintaining high retention through clear direction paired with individual coaching.
- Set editorial guidelines and priorities for the department; created the consistent front-of-guide planning section adopted across the main Fodor's series.
- Conceived and launched Fodor's Family and directed Fodor's Around the City with Kids, new series for family travelers.
- Developed the Ground Zero and post-Katrina New Orleans guidebook features, later cited by the New York Times as a model for covering difficult subject matter with depth and care.
- Served as on-air/on-record travel expert for the Wall Street Journal, Family Circle, Parents, and MSNBC.
Senior Editor
Fodor's Travel, Random House · May 2001–August 2004
- Led five editors producing 30 guides annually; directed the Compass American Guides series.
- Edited six books a year; conceived and edited Great American Drives and Traveling Solo.
Senior Web Editor
Fodor's Travel, Random House · February 2000–April 2001
- Managed day-to-day editorial for Fodors.com's news & features section; assigned and edited freelancers.
- Built new cruises and family-travel sections for the site relaunch; produced content across two content management systems.
Early Career
The Freedom Forum / Newseum NY
- Advanced from Program Assistant to Bureau Chief and Publications Manager, directing editorial and web operations for Freedomforum.org, including staff assignments, live webcasts, and the monthly newsletter Communiqué.
Freelance Writer & Editor
Selected Highlights · 2008–2022
- Wrote for Mastercard's Priceless campaign, Barclaycard Travel, and Fox News's "Away Game" and "In 5" columns; regular on-air commentator for FoxNews.com Live and ABC News.
- Originated ShermansTravel.com's weekly family-vacation blog; served as the brand's on-air family-travel spokesperson.
- Developmental editor for two BenBella Books titles; longtime volunteer editor for the "Traveling Dad" blog.
Education & Awards
- B.A., Psychology and European Literature, Brandeis University
- Lowell Thomas Award (Bronze), 2010 — Fox News feature "Are Operation Vacations Worth the Trip?"
What Colleagues Say
"As a conscientious yet also personal manager with excellent listening skills, Paul brought out the best work in his employees. He recognized and nurtured the strengths of each of his team members, giving them autonomy while also nudging them forward."
— Debbie Harmsen, Associate Editor, Fodor's Travel
"Paul has a rare combination of managerial and editorial talents. He gives valuable guidance and advice, while encouraging editors to think independently, and he's generous with thanks and credit."
— Jennifer Paull, Editor/Writer, Fodor's Travel
"Paul was one of my first hires when we expanded the editorial staff at Fodors.com. He was absolutely superb: smart, diligent, efficient, and collegial."
— Daniel Mangin, Editorial Director, Random House
Interests
Daily runner; NYC Marathon finisher; multiple half-marathons since.