Jim Sheppard
Founder and Owner
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?” That was almost 30 years ago, when 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 three decades will pale in comparison to what lies ahead in a world where digital plays an ever-expanding role.
I thrive on those kinds of challenges. I have played many roles in the digital world. Since 2017 when I launched Conquest Communications, my company, my consultants and I have worked with organizations and individuals, providing our strategic advice, as well as our writing and editing services, which are unique and tailored 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 an 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 Union in 1991; London chief correspondent (twice); Ottawa news editor during the Pierre Trudeau and Brian Mulroney administrations; and beat reporter for the Reform Party after the 1993 election that brought Jean Chrétien to power.
