Biography
John Alden Howell’s articles, interviews, and reviews have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Vogue, Artforum, and Interview, among other publications. He is the author of two book-length biographies, of Laurie Anderson and David Byrne, in the “American Originals” series (Thunder’s Mouth Press) and is the editor of Avant-Garde Art in Europe and America 1950-1990 (Rizzoli). He is currently a contributing editor to Aperture, the photography quarterly. Howell has been features editor at Elle magazine and a contributing editor to Elle Decor; editor-in-chief of High Times; and a contributing editor to Artforum. He has worked for Hearst’s New Magazines Division, where, as editor-in-chief, he produced prototypes of Lauren Magazine in collaboration with Polo/Ralph Lauren. As a publisher-editor, Howell has repositioned existing magazines and launched new titles; written and edited Web copy, books, catalogues, articles, reports, brochures, newsletters, promotional materials, press releases, and strategic business plans. As a radio/TV journalist and producer, he has worked as on-air radio news and programming announcer; produced shows for broadcast radio, including the CBC (Canada); created programming for cable TV (Dish network); and written and produced informational videos (for Lincoln Center).
Currently, Howell produces “The CSR Minute” for 3BL Media, which he researches, writes, edits, and directs, and is Editorial Director of 3BL TV, which he manages. He also consults on communications, Web content, retail sales, and exhibit design for the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, MS. As the principal of Greenland Inc., Howell advises on media strategy, communications, new media, project management, branding, marketing, and content creation for Web sites, campaigns, new product lines, programming for Web and cable, publications, and multi-platform media initiatives. He has created and directed multi-platform social media networks; coordinated new media for publications and events; and overseen the building of new Web sites and the redesign of existing sites. He has guided Web video production teams and developed business plans for digital download initiatives. His clients have included Paul McCartney/Linda McCartney Food, The Body Shop, Calvin Klein, Polo/Ralph Lauren, the Hearst Corporation, H. J. Heinz, the Trans-High Corporation, The Media Group/Dish TV, CSRwire.com, Hain Celestial Group, Dave Matthews Band, the Delta Blues Museum, 3BL Media, the Collective Heritage Institute (Bioneers Conference), the Collage Foundation, and Michael Fields Agricultural Institute.