About

My name is Richard Giraldi, and I’m a content and social media specialist with over ten years experience creating compelling content for print and digital with an emphasis on engaging storytelling techniques.

I currently work as the Digital Marketing Associate for BreakFree Solutions, an IT transformation company that focuses on helping businesses accelerate to the cloud, operationalize DevOps and automate IT processes.

I also have an extensive background in digital storytelling. In 2015, I graduated from the Digital Media & Storytelling Master’s degree program at Loyola University Chicago. During my time in the program, I created high quality web content with an emphasis on engaging storytelling techniques including slideshows, videos and podcasts using Adobe Create Suite programs including InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Audition.

I consider writing my greatest strength. I received an MA degree in journalism in 2010 from DePaul University. I have also written on a freelance basis for a number of well-known Chicago publications, including the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicagoist and Time Out Chicago. I have experience writing both short and long form pieces on multiple topics for print and the web, as well as thorough knowledge of AP style. My complete digital portfolio, which includes my writing, photography, video and audio works, can be found here: http://richardgiraldi.com/

I currently live in Chicago, IL, but I mostly grew up in Houston, Texas. In my free time, I play music, specifically guitar and bass. I have performed live in nearly all the Chicago area music clubs with my surf-garage rock band, Bleach Party. Music writing is my passion as you might be able to tell from my freelance writing, which mostly consists of album reviews and music-related pieces.

I founded a Chicago music blog in 2009, LoudLoopPress.com, and by engaging and building relationships with readers through social media, in addition to creating and curating high quality and timely content, the blog blossomed into a popular online destination for Chicago-focused music reviews. As a result, LoudLoopPress.com gained over 2,600 Facebook “Likes” and over 4,000 Twitter followers and was voted Best Local Music Blog in the Chicago Reader’s Best Of Chicago for four years straight – 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 – until I retired the blog in 2017.

Anyway, thank you for visiting my site! Feel free to connect with me via email or LinkedIn.