Today, we’d like to introduce you to Foo Conner.
Hi Foo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in West Virginia. The day I turned 18, I bought a car and headed to Canada. I learned how to manage the stick shift on the way there. I didn’t want to die or, worse, be an adult without seeing another country. Yet, it was closer to home I’d find adventure.
Across the Ohio River near Rutland was a field of burnt cars and skateboarders with questionable tattoos. I found myself surrounded by punk rock stars. My first break was at Skatopia, an anarchist compound with legendary parties. Maybe because I didn’t drink and could speak to the police coherently, they put me in charge of their music festival.
For five years, I met the heroes of punk’s rough 80s and 90s. I hosted a space where they could be themselves. That third space, we desperately miss. I aim to create.
I left Ohio for New York where I produced the Punk Island Music Festival. (2010). The following year, I took to wall street to protest teacher’s pension funds being raided in the last, last, financial crisis. I was living in Zucotti Park in Manhattan living with thousands visiting my ‘home’ a day. I Occupied Wall Street to bring a voice to the retirees that could not travel or speak.
After Occupy, I dedicated myself to establishing a media network, which I run today. It spans twenty media properties, including The Pittsburgh Reporter, founded in 1939. While establishing this Appalachian News Outlet, including Ohio, WV, and Kentucky, I also ran Randyland, a colorful house of expression. I also ran a YouTube Channel where I built superhero weapons at night. During the day, I coach college kids to build startups worth billions.
They call me exhausting. I say I’m just trying to bring my dreams to the world.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Patience. It’s not what I know today but what I can figure out tomorrow.
My vision for new media is reliant on technology. There are hiccups. In 2011, we switched phones and carried batteries on our backs to live stream. Today, I have friends around the country using their cell phones to live stream to our command center, and we broadcast on Twitch.
I guess what I’m trying to say, good ideas are great when deployed at the right time.
People will doubt, sabotage, and become distracted when you prepare for tomorrow. But when the day comes, savor it.
People forget yesterday’s festival. The only care to be booked for tomorrow. Be patient and design tomorrow.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For ten years, I attended 500 events a year, sharing my life and journalism through the website Jekko.com. I’ve attended over 5,000. In the morning, I would welcome hundreds to my house (Randyland) and go out at night to meet even more. Some say I have boundless energy. Introverts call me exhausting.
Though I love hopping on tours with friends in bands, it’s staying home and taking care of the community that is important to me. I live in Mister Rogers Neighborhood, the neighborhood of the heart. Last year, I became the owner of The Reporter, which was started in 1939, older than WQED and KDKA in Pittsburgh. It’s a vote of confidence that I can take care of the community and get it to the 100-year anniversary and beyond.
This year, I’ll be filming mini-documentaries on travel and the town.
First, Foo is my real name. (Editor’s note: I even have the trademark for it.)
People can follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my newsletter.
Alright, so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Pitch me a story. Stay a while and listen to other stories I’ve collected. I’m looking to highlight locals with reels and the bigger stories with documentaries.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://foo.press
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fooconner
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FooConner/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fooconner/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/FooConner/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PittsburghReporter
- Other: https://sopghreporter.com/
