Digital Pioneer
Who is Jim Sheppard?
When I joined the digital arm of The Washington Post in 1995 after being a foreign correspondent and newsroom leader for many years, my friends complimented me at getting a job at such a prestigious organization, but then asked me: “Why are you leaving journalism to go into the Internet?” Twenty-five years ago, it was impossible to imagine how the digital world would shake the foundations of “reality” in all the ways we take for granted today.
However, I believe the sweeping changes of the past 25 years will pale in comparison to what lies ahead when we finally defeat the deadly COVID-19 virus and emerge into a world where digital plays an even bigger role than today.
I thrive on those kinds of challenge. I have played many roles in the digital world. Since 2017, when I launched Conquest Communications, my company and I have consulted with dozens of companies, almost always under NDAs so that our strategic advice, as well as our writing and editing services, are unique to each small business or organization.
My background before launching Conquest Communications was in journalism. I was deputy editor of washingtonpost.com, as well as one of its editorial founders; news manager and editorial founder of ABCNEWS.com; and executive editor of globeandmail.com from 2005 to 2017.
Prior to that, I was a foreign correspondent and newsroom leader for The Canadian Press. My key postings were Moscow chief correspondent (bureau chief) during the years on either side of the fall of the former Soviet; London chief correspondent (twice) and Ottawa news editor during the previous Pierre Trudeau and Brian Mulroney administrations.