In 2004, Ralph Martin became president of Trib Total Media, which publishes the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, and has since become a nationally recognized newspaper industry leader. Trib Total Media has shown five years of circulation growth under Martin’s leadership and has usurped the Post-Gazette as the largest regional newspaper six out of seven days per week. Martin is also CEO of TTM.
Martin’s responsibilities include management of seven daily newspapers and more than 60 weekly publications, as well as serving as the chairman of MANSI, the for-profit arm of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, where he previously served as president.
In his time as president, Martin has been instrumental in keeping Trib Total Media at the edge of industry innovation. By pulling the individual branches of TTM under one umbrella, customers were able to satisfy their advertising needs through one company contact, a method many other media outlets didn’t immediately utilize. Martin also understood the value of online media and launched an Internet-based radio station in January 2011 following the leave of Pittsburgh’s ESPN radio. Trib Total Media launched Sportstalk Radio and now averages more than 12,000 listeners a day and has become a trusted source for breaking news.
Martin’s leadership strategy is based on cultivating an environment where mistakes are respected as part of the learning process, and his door is always open to encourage employees to share ideas and concerns. With these techniques, TTM has become a household name and the leadership team has grown significantly during his presidency.
Part of this positive environment comes from Martin’s commitment to community involvement. Martin’s philanthropic nature extends beyond the journalism industry. Because of this expectation of generosity, every senior manager at TTM sits on a nonprofit or industry board.
With a combined effort to engage with the community and lead the journalism industry, Martin has transformed Total Trib Media into a nationally recognized company with an impact that reaches far beyond the news.
How to Reach: Pittsburgh Tribune Review, (412) 321-6460 or www.triblive.com
