James Smith, PhD

After leaving a faculty post in Sociology at the University of Miami, Mr. Smith began his newspaper career in 1980 as Research Manager at the Florida Sun-Sentinel and became Vice President and Director of Marketing there in 1990.  In 1998 Mr. Smith joined Morris as Director of Research.  Now Vice President of Research and Development, he chairs the company’s Innovation Working Group, charged with reinventing the company’s business model using the tools of disruptive innovation.

On the product development front, Smith developed the strategy and tactics used in Bluffton Today, Morris’ revolutionary hyper-local newspaper and website, launched in April 2005.  He also developed the brand, marketing and licensing strategies for the national roll out of skirt!, a revolutionary women’s magazine purchased by Morris in 2004, launched in several Morris markets in 2005 and licensed to other media companies since 2006. 

Mr. Smith serves on the NAA Research Federation Board of Directors and the INMA North American Board. He received an MA and PhD in Demography and Urban Planning from Cornell University.

Mr. Smith attended API’s “Reaching Latino Audiences” seminar in 2005.