Top 5 Takeaways:
📰 Newsprint Runs Deep: Blair's media career is rooted in personal passion, starting at age 14 with Creative Loafing—he didn’t just read the paper, he felt it.
💡 Dreamer Connector: Blair blends big vision with a relational spirit, helping publishers reimagine possibilities while making them feel understood and supported.
🧰 From Passion to Practicality: As co-founder of Charleston City Paper, Blair helped build a $400K+ “Best Of” franchise and now helps others monetize events and engagement.
🤝 The Power of Outside Eyes: Blair helps publishers break free from operational paralysis by offering clear, experienced, and empathetic insight from the outside in.
⚙️ CitySpark’s Edge: Through reverse publishing, event automation, and self-service monetization, Blair is helping local publishers generate revenue and reclaim precious time.
If you could bottle authentic affection for the media industry, Blair Barna would be the label. He's the VP of Sales at CitySpark, but that title only scratches the surface. Blair is a creative force, a relationship builder, and a passionate advocate for publishers trying to survive—and thrive—in the digital storm.
Newsprint in His Blood
It all started with Creative Loafing. At just 14 years old, Blair discovered the pulse of Atlanta’s cultural scene through the alt-weekly. “It felt like the heartbeat of the city,” he said. He later got a job at their Savannah location and ultimately co-founded Charleston City Paper, where he led the advertising and innovation charge.
“I didn’t just fall into media. I chased it.”
Creative Meets Commercial
Blair doesn’t fit neatly into a sales box. He's a designer, a strategist, and a deeply curious mind. “I loved creating campaigns, designing ads, and helping SMBs thrive,” he said. He built ad programs around ideas—not just inventory—and believes strongly that advertising, when done right, is a creative and noble act.
From Publisher to Platform
At CitySpark, Blair is helping local media regain what they've lost: time and focus. CitySpark’s tools automate event listings, enable reverse publishing across platforms, and introduce self-service monetization for events and “Best Of” ballots—tools Blair once pioneered as a publisher himself.
“You have to sell success,” he said. “Use all your resources to help your advertisers win.”
Blair isn’t selling software. He’s helping publishers reimagine their models and remember their purpose. Learn more about Blair and what CitySpark can do for your publication at cityspark.com.
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