“Multimedia Veteran and Corporate Journalism Pioneer”

As Franco’s Integrated Media Consultant, Ed Garsten leverages his more than four decades of experience in all aspects of communications on media outreach strategies, social media tactics, writing development and video production skills.

Prior to joining Franco in 2018, Ed enjoyed a long career that started in 1973, spinning records at Central New York State and Tucson, Ariz. radio stations before moving to television news in 1979 as a reporter, anchor and newscast producer at Tucson ABC affiliate KGUN. He was hired in 1981 as one of 10 producers to launch CNN2, now known as HLN, quickly moving up the ladder over his 20 years with the company to supervising producer at CNN, southeast bureau correspondent, anchor and Detroit bureau chief and correspondent.

Following the closure of the CNN Detroit bureau in 2001, Ed joined the Associated Press as national automotive writer. He was recruited a year later by The Detroit News as General Motors beat writer, then tapped by DaimlerChrysler, now Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, to launch its first blog and ultimately establish its digital communications team that pioneered the concept of “corporate journalism.” Chrysler was one of the first automakers to webcast live its auto show product reveals.

Ed retired from FCA in July 2016. He’s now semi-retired, and in addition to his work with Franco, is a senior contributor covering autos for Forbes.com.

He cut his teeth in broadcasting as a radio and television major at the State University of New York at Oswego where he was program director at campus station WOCR, working with other budding broadcasters, including Al Roker. Ed decided to get serious about pursuing a career in news by earning his master’s in journalism at the University of Arizona.

Ed’s all about pushing forward, never relying on the same old ways of doing things and looking for innovative and effective methods and tactics. For him, the word “can’t” doesn’t exist. His passions are playing ice hockey, skiing, kayaking, playing the guitar and drums, and of course, his wife, son and daughter.