About ComedyBeat
ComedyBeat is a start-up independent news organization serving the comedy market through its flagship Web news site ComedyBeat.com and trade publishing arm ComedyBeat Press. The mission of ComedyBeat is to provide fair and accurate news, reviews and analytical commentary about the world of comedy from a business, economic, and legal perspective, to create and distribute trade information resources to comedy professionals, and to become the national leader of comedy trade news.
Editorial Staff
Eddie Vega, managing editor of news operations and online media. Eddie taught writing and literature at Palm Beach State College in Florida for nine years. A gradaute of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, his news stories and photos have appeared in the Washington Post, The Austin-American Statesman, The Tampa Tribune, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, The Queens Ledger, and many other news outlets.
Carl Unegbu, managing editor of media and commentary. More information is available about Carl on Twitter and Linkedin.
Diane Vacca, social media editor. Trained as a medievalist, Diane taught medieval literature, Spanish and Italian at several universities before becoming a journalist with specialties in politics, the arts and New York City. Her work can also be found at the New York City biweekly Chelsea Now, where she covers everything from education and public housing to landmark designation and the arts. More information is available about Diane on Twitter and Linkedin.
Cortright McMeel, managing editor, Denver bureau. Cort is a writer and reviewer whose work has appeared in The Weekly Standard, and Mississippi Review, among other publications. He was publisher of Murdaland: Crime Fiction for the 21st Century, and his first novel Short, about the world of energy trading, published by St. Martin's Press, was recently launched to great applause at the National Arts Club.
Carla Baranauckas, contributing editor. More information is available about Carla on Twitter, Linkedin, and the New York Times.
Emily Wilson, managing editor, San Francisco bureau. Emily has written and produced stories for radio, newspapers, websites and magazines. Some of the outlets she has worked for include NPR, KQED, KCBS, Agence France-Presse, The Los Angeles Times, and Diverse Magazine. She writes about arts in the San Francisco Bay Area for the Examiner.com. More information is available about Emily on her Web site.
Don Bates, contributing editor. Don is a part-time professor, freelance writer/editor and communications consultant.
Peter Haas, contributing editor and columnist. Peter has been a cabaret reviewer and feature writer for over a decade, and is a former vice president and board member of the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs. He has been a script writer, performer and the lyricist of some 200 songs for Pickwick Records, and served as A&R executive for National Geographic’s cabaret CD, Destination New York. As a songwriter, he is a multiple ASCAP award winner; with songs performed in Carnegie Hall; Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and assorted local dives.