About Jay Gentile

Jay Gentile is an award-winning journalist, editor, and sales executive with 20+ years of professional experience writing for and editing various newspapers, magazines, books, and websites. Jay is recognized as an expert in a wide array of topics including travel, music, entertainment, food/drink, and nightlife.

Jay’s articles have appeared in The Washington Post, CNN Travel, VICE, The Guardian, Chicago Tribune, SPIN, Lonely Planet, Outside Magazine, Thrillist, Huffington Post, Frommer’s, The Telegraph, Paste Magazine, High Times, MSN, Baltimore Sun, Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, San Francisco Chronicle, Rough Guides, Chicago Reader, 5280 Magazine, Hemispheres, Alaska Beyond Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Vancouver Sun, Kansas City Star, Charlotte Observer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sun-Times Media, AOL, Capital Gazette, Where Magazine, Marriott Traveler, Popdust and more.

In 2022, Jay became Founder & CEO of SPACE_BAR Media LLC, a full-service freelance writing and advertising firm covering every space in today’s evolving media landscape from award-winning editorial to advertising sales. In addition to his work as a leading Chicago travel writer and Chicago freelance journalist, Jay is also the Publisher & Editor-In-Chief of Chicago INNERVIEW Magazine, a monthly print and online music publication he founded in 2003.

Jay currently serves as Director of Sales & Partnerships at Cool Material, the leading men’s lifestyle publication and digital buyer’s guide dedicated to highlighting the coolest products in the known universe, which follows his time as Account Lead with Consequence of Sound, one of the world’s top independent music websites.

Jay previously worked as Senior Editor at The Rundown, a daily email men’s magazine and city guide publisher with more than one million subscribers in 10 U.S. cities. Jay edited and managed the publication’s Chicago and Las Vegas editions, where he covered everything from events and new restaurant openings to travel pieces and entertainment profiles.

In 2008, Jay was selected to cover the presidential campaign of Barack Obama for his magazine’s Political File. From the Democratic National Convention and the Inauguration to press conferences and trips with the president, Jay contributed features as a member of the traveling press. He also covered Congressional races and the governor’s office.

Before that, Jay was News Editor for the Estes Park Trail-Gazette newspaper in Estes Park, Colorado, home of Rocky Mountain National Park. There he covered local government, tourism, police, personality profiles, and features — for which he was granted a “Best Feature Story” award from the Colorado Press Association.

Jay has also worked as a staff writer for several Chicago newspapers including Nadig Newspaper’s Chicago’s Northwest Side Press and Downer’s Grove’s Reporter/Progress Newspapers. As a news reporter, Jay covered everything from local school board meetings to murder trials to interviews with Rahm Emanuel.

Jay’s work also has included writing freelance ad copy for Sennheiser Electronic Corporation as well as keyword-focused SEO articles for ticket broker TicketIQ. He currently serves as a guest lecturer at Columbia College’s Department of Journalism and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Jay has traveled extensively to 30+ countries across five continents and currently resides in Chicago. You can read recommendations and more about Jay Gentile by visiting his Linked In page or Muck Rack profile.

Books:
Jay has contributed to several books, including Lonely Planet’s 50-state hardcover guidebook The Unique States of America. Jay was also asked to submit a testimonial as a local industry expert for the book jacket of ABC reporter Steve Dolinsky’s Pizza City USA: 101 Reasons Why Chicago Is America’s Greatest Pizza Town.

Media:
For media appearances, you may listen to an interview with Jay on WGN Radio and guest segments featuring Jay on local NPR station WBEZ as well as a return appearance one year later again on WBEZ.

Contact:
Contact Jay for freelance writing and editing, digital marketing and advertising sales, and media requests at: editor@spacebarmedia.co

Publications & Businesses:
SPACE_BAR Media, LLC
Chicago INNERVIEW Magazine

Author Pages:
Thrillist
Lonely Planet
Outside Magazine
Frommer’s
VICE
Rough Guides
Chicago Reader
High Times
Consequence of Sound
Liquor.com

TESTIMONIALS ABOUT JAY GENTILE

“Jay Gentile’s work stands out for several reasons:

1. Unique Perspective: Gentile often offers a fresh perspective on travel destinations, food, and culture. He seeks out lesser-known gems and off-the-beaten-path experiences, providing readers with insights they might not find elsewhere.
2. Engaging Writing Style: Gentile’s writing style is engaging and approachable, making his articles enjoyable to read. He has a knack for storytelling, bringing destinations and experiences to life through vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes.
3. Diverse Coverage: Gentile’s portfolio encompasses a wide range of topics, from adventure travel and outdoor activities to culinary explorations and cultural insights. This diversity allows him to appeal to a broad audience with varied interests.
4. Authenticity: Gentile’s writing often reflects his genuine passion for travel and exploration. His authenticity shines through in his work, making it relatable and trustworthy for readers seeking genuine recommendations and experiences.

Overall, it’s this combination of unique perspective, engaging writing style, diverse coverage, and authenticity that makes Jay Gentile’s work stand out in the world of travel journalism.”
—ChatGPT

“A thoughtful and intelligent writer.”
—Judy Hostert-Harvey, Sun-Times Media

“Jay is everything you need in a freelance writer: reliable, creative, responsive and willing to over-deliver. His food, drink, entertainment and lifestyle coverage for Thrillist Chicago has helped elevate the edition exponentially. There’s nobody I trust more to deliver writing that’s both thoughtful in its construction and though-provoking in its execution.”
—Sean Cooley, Thrillist

“Jay was fantastic to work with…Excellent results, quick turnaround, easy to work with and always looking out for the good of his clients. I couldn’t recommend Jay more for any and all writing and online projects you might have in mind.”
—Paul Grachan, Maddock Douglas

“He’s incredibly organized and hardworking, and promptly responds to any issues…Jay’s strength lies in this quality and consistency as well as his commitment to creative excellence.”
—Abbey Yemm, 5280 Magazine

“Anyone he works with is in good hands.”
—John Taylor, Interview Magazine

“Hiring a freelance writer is usually a crap shoot but not with Jay. He gets it…. right from the start. He thinks first, evaluates and researches the subject matter and then writes concisely with a unique creative style while delivering meaningful content.”
—Toni Flosi, AAdvert International

“Jay has mastered the demanding, fast-moving world of daily online publishing like few others I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”
—Martin Caballero, Boston Globe

“Jay’s a seasoned pro and rare jack of all trades: reporter, writer, editor, and manager. Not only does he always find the best content — and endlessly fun, innovative ways to package it to our audience — but he’s also adept at mentoring other writers to follow his lead and elevate their game. Jay’s results speak for themselves.”
—Rich Brest, Rundown.com

“If you’re looking for someone dedicated, organized, and on top of things, he’s your guy.”
—Zak Stawski, Campbell Ewald