“Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today.” - Robert McKee
Chicago bred communications and media professional.
Charles Jefferson is a Chicago born, but Cleveland based journalist, senior communications strategist, consultant, and multi-skilled storyteller. He currently works as the News Director for the National Ministries of the United Church of Christ, where he oversees the denomination’s strategic communications, and serve as the editor-in-chief of UCC News and all digital communications, media and public relations. Jefferson also works as a communications and media consultant. He provides communications strategy to small and mid-sized non-profits, helping execute plans to manage reputations, messaging, internal/external relations, donor relations, and helping to achieve organizational business goals through tailored plans, content creation, and media relations. He has worked for several organizations, including Foundation 65, the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Chicago Theological Seminary, and Hair Essentials Company. Jefferson has also served as an occasional freelance reporter for The Gateway Journalism Review.
Prior to his role with the United Church of Christ, Jefferson worked in various communications roles with Holy Trinity High School, Chicago Theological Seminary, the Moran Center, and Community Renewal Society. After receiving his bachelor’ s degree in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, Jefferson worked as a web and segment producer for Chicago Tonight, the nightly news and public affairs show on WTTW-Channel 11. Jefferson also worked as a producer and photographer for Waskul Entertainment, a multimedia company that produced live web segments for the NAB Show in Las Vegas; an apprentice at WGN-TV, where he was an assistant web producer for the station; and as a staff adviser to The Columbia Chronicle, the award winning, student-run newspaper at Columbia College Chicago.
Jefferson also served as program manager for Columbia Links, a high school journalism and news literacy program that was housed at Columbia College Chicago. There, Jefferson coordinated student interviews, orientations, co-planned class syllabi, ran all social media efforts, produced the student webcast and co-managed production of the annual magazine featuring student stories that was distributed to high schools across the Chicago area. Jefferson received his journalism degree from Columbia College Chicago in 2014. Jefferson is an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) - Chicago Chapter.