Colin McMahon

Colin McMahon is a lecturer for Medill’s newly established Military Reporting Project. He is a seasoned journalist and visionary news media executive at home in the field, the newsroom and the C-suite.

McMahon currently works as a coach and consultant for publishers across the world, joining with Blue Engine Cooperative to help media teams drive audience and revenue. Previously he served as editor-in-chief at Chicago Tribune and chief content officer at Tribune Publishing. Most recently he was chief operating officer at StartupNation Media Group.

As editor-in-chief of the Chicago Tribune, McMahon led the newspaper through the COVID-19 pandemic and a turbulent era marked by social unrest and political upheaval. McMahon kept the newsroom focused on its journalistic mission and producing award-winning work, including an investigative series that won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting.

As chief content officer of Tribune Publishing, McMahon led efforts across Tribune’s 10 markets to reimagine and restructure newsrooms for the digital age. Whether as editor or executive, McMahon focused on content strategy, audience analytics and culture change. He also oversaw all editorial operations at Tribune Content Agency, including Tribune News Service.

McMahon embarked on a leadership path in mid-career, after more than 20 years as a local journalist and foreign correspondent. As a reporter and correspondent, McMahon was highly regarded for being able to solve problems, explain complex issues and deliver under duress. Across postings in Baghdad, Buenos Aires, Moscow and Mexico City, McMahon covered armed conflicts, geopolitical crises and daily life in more than 40 countries. As a Metro reporter, he covered crime, national politics, social issues and Chicago’s northwest suburbs.

McMahon joined the Tribune as a copy editor on the National/Foreign Desk after reporting and editing jobs in Ohio and Michigan. He is a native of Cleveland and a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University.