I am Adrienne Samuels Gibbs.
I’m an award-winning journalist, essayist and Executive Director of a Chicago journalism nonprofit. For more than two decades I’ve told the stories that matter — cover stories for national magazines, investigations for major newspapers, essays that have reached hundreds of thousands of readers and cultural criticism that has appeared on CNN, Fortune and Forbes.
I’ve profiled presidents and pop stars. I’ve written about grief, memory and what it means to grow up Black in America. I’ve rebuilt iconic media brands and built new ones from scratch.
I’m also the person in the room who spots the story before anyone else does.
If you need a writer, an editorial strategist, a panel host or a ghostwriter who brings that depth to your project — I’m happy to talk.
Editorial Strategy
You have a story. I help you tell it — and make sure the right people hear it. From content strategy and editorial planning to writing and editing, I manage the full process so you don’t have to. I’ve done this for Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, government entities and individual voices that deserved a bigger platform.
Speaker + Voiceover
I’ve hosted panels, delivered keynotes, led workshops and lent my voice to documentaries. I’m comfortable on any stage — from a boardroom to a broadcast studio to a theater full of people. If your event needs someone who can hold a room, drive a conversation and leave an audience with something to think about, let’s talk.
Ghostwriter
Some of the best stories I’ve ever told weren’t published under my name. If you have the expertise and the ideas but not the words — that’s exactly where I come in. I ghostwrite speeches, essays, LinkedIn posts, blog posts and longer form pieces that sound like you on your best day.
As Featured In
View My Work
As a Forbes.com contributor, Adrienne covers TV, music and film.
As Senior Editor for NBC News/NBC BLK, Adrienne selects and profiles successful Millennials for an annually updated microsite.
“The Swiss Army Knife of Editorial Excellence”
Whether I’m writing content for Fortune 500 companies, cover stories for national magazines, or ghostwriting a book, I get the job done. And, my clients will tell you that I do it excellently, on time and within budget.
As an experienced media executive, content manager and editor, I excel at creating and managing your editorial content, your publications and your newsletters. When you work with me I handle the entire editorial process from hiring freelancers to creating an editorial calendar to providing a full content analysis and social media strategy to boost eyeballs to your site or boost attendance at your event.
I write for Fortune. I’m a longtime Netflix and Forbes.com contributor. I’ve written for Red Bull, Marie Claire, NBC News, GOOD, Pitchfork, Essence, Vice, Bank of the West, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Northwestern University magazine, the University of Chicago, Ipsos, Cook County Rain Ready program, Urban Ministries, Takepart, Chicagoist, NewCity and the National Council of Teachers of English.
With over 20 years of editorial experience, I’m a rare bird that has worked every job in a media entity. I oversaw content strategy for an app used by millions of global users as the Director of Content for Medium. As the Managing Editor of Ebony magazine, I rebuilt an iconic brand. I’ve also worked as a staff reporter for The Chicago Sun-Times, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, The St. Petersburg Times and the San Francisco Examiner. Brand content? Yep. I do that too. Sleep Number Bed, Time|Life and Rain Ready are amongst my clients.
Clients I’ve Worked With
Media Appearances
Adrienne Samuels Gibbs is a regular CNN contributor and she has guest hosted The Morning Shift at WBEZ-91.5 FM Chicago, the city’s NPR station. Samuels Gibbs has also appeared on WGCI-107.5 FM and The Tom Joyner Morning Show.
