Charleston’s Media Engine, Explained, King & Columbus and Post and Courier's, Chase Heatherly

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.A 200-year-old newsroom building a modern growth engine isn’t a story you hear every day. We sit down with King & Columbus president and Post and Courier CRO, Chase Heatherly, to explore how a legacy media brand built a nimble, independent agency that treats branding and performance like partners, not rivals. From a new printing press in North Charleston to high-velocity digital campaigns, the throughline is simple: meet audiences where they are and measure what matters.We get practical about what actually works right now. Chase shares how the team uses paid social as a true conversion channel, why PPC remains resilient despite the AI noise, and how short-form vertical video travels across Reels, TikTok, and YouTube without losing the plot. We go deeper on first-party data strategies that survive cookie deprecation, the real role of AI in an agency (speed, not soul), and the reporting stack that turns UTMs and call tracking into clean, client-ready insights. Along the way, you’ll hear how an 18-person team spans media buying, PR, creative, video, and social—operating like a boutique shop with the backing of a statewide media organization.If you’re a marketer hungry for ROI, a founder trying to balance awareness with acquisition, or a student looking for your first break, you’ll find a clear, candid roadmap here. We also talk mentorship, internships, and the Charleston community’s collaborative spirit—proof that competition and cooperation can coexist when there’s more than enough work to go around.Enjoy the conversation, then connect with us: [email protected] or kingandcolumbus.com. If this episode sparked an idea, share it with a colleague, leave a quick review, and hit follow so you never miss the next deep dive.South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors.Support the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...