Hi! I’m Katelyn Haas, a social media manger/editor living and working in Chicago. I build up platform strategy where there is none, with a track record of growing audiences on Instagram specifically from near scratch.
I’ve worked in print, social/digital-first and broadcast newsrooms, cultivating my combined interests in video production, writing, editing and audience strategy. My work can be seen at the Chicago Sun-Times, PBS, WJZ, CBS News’ O&O affiliate, WUSA9, a TEGNA-owned CBS station, Moment Magazine and more.
Check out my work below!
Recent Work
I joined the Chicago Sun-Times in 2021 when the organization had no vertical video strategy. I led a comprehensive overhaul—developing creative standards, implementing graphic overlays, and producing both short- and long-form vertical video content. I also coordinated with reporters to capture breaking-news coverage optimized for mobile viewing. Those efforts established a consistent, cross-platform video approach (with particular success on Instagram) and grew the outlet’s audience to more than 100,000 followers.
In 2024, I took a management opportunity at Chicago’s WTTW PBS station to run my own team and build an entire social strategy on my own. With a focus on Instagram, I’ve built up a vertical video strategy for this account and in the last year, it has grown from under 20,000 to nearly 50,000.
Below are examples that illustrate my hands-on production work and my collaborative approach with newsroom teams to build an engaging, scalable video strategy.
I created a compact style guide and template library for text-overlay social posts on Instagram. It includes carousel and single-post templates for breaking news, explainers, and community profiles. Designed for editors and freelancers to keep brand consistency, speed up production, and improve audience clarity. I have linked Instagram specifically here.