IRIS DORBIAN
About Iris
Once upon a time, I was a struggling actress. But then I gave it up (wisely and thankfully) for journalism. Since graduating with a master's degree from the prestigious Columbia University School of Journalism, I've had a very interesting and eclectic career.
From 1999 to 2007, I was editor-in-chief of Stage Directions, a technical theater magazine. There I was in charge of content for both the print and online platform. In my final year, I received a book contract from Allworth Press to write, "Great Producers: Visionaries of the American Theater," which was published in August 2008.
After I left Stage Directions, I worked as the group editor of the Media/PR Group at Access Intelligence where I worked on editing and writing copy for PR News, Media Industry Newsletter (min) and Min's b2b, three industry trade newsletters that covered PR, the business of consumer magazines and trade magazines, respectively. I also wrote a regular "Eye on Advertising" column for both min and min's b2b, which covered the marketing/advertising trends in both the consumer and trade magazine sectors. And I managed, moderated and recruited speakers for PR News' monthly webinars.
After I left Access Intelligence in 2010, I joined the adjunct faculty at William Paterson University's Communication Department. There I taught journalism to undergrads and professional writing and communication to graduate students.
Since then I've become a busy and prolific b2b journalist whose
specialty beats have included private equity/venture capital, cannabis, marketing/advertising, media, small business and theater. Currently, I'm a reporter for PEI Group's PE Hub, a site that covers private equity.
From July 2018 to the end of 2025, I covered the business of the legal cannabis industry as a contributor to Forbes' vices channel. I started writing about the space in 2014 when there were only two legal markets, making me a pioneer cannabis journalist.
And from 2021-2022, after Broadway ended its 18-month, COVID-induced shutdown, I wrote a series of theater-related articles for Business Insider.
In addition to the aforementioned titles, my articles have appeared in a wide number of publications and sites that include Wall Street Journal, Thomson Reuters, Crain's New York Business, CFO.com, Investopedia, Yahoo, Google News, Playbill, Mediapost, Live Design, DMNews, Backstage, Theatermania, Lifestyles Magazine, Bank of Ameria's Small Business site, Jerusalem Report, the Forward, Pilates Style, Natural Living Today, Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit, Dance Teacher and Pointe. And while I was in journalism school, I worked for over a year as a special projects writer in Newsweek's communications department.
In addition to "Great Producers," I'm also the author of "Sentenced to Shakespeare" (Sunbury Press/Milford House Press, July 2008) "Next Stop Boston" (Black Pawn Press, September 2023) and "An Epiphany in Lilacs: In the Aftermath of the Camps" (3rd ed. Sunbury Press/Milford House Press, July 2025). The latter work is a coming of age novel set in a displaced persons' camp in Germany after World War II. The story is loosely inspired by my father's real-life experiences as a 14-year-old Holocaust survivor. Coming soon is "One More Encore," which will be published by Sunbury's Milford House imprint in early spring 2027. This novel is about a rock icon who faces a personal and professional reckoning after an attempt is made on his life.
AWARDS: "Next Stop, Boston" is a 2024 Firebird Book Award Winner in the coming of age category, a Literary Titan Book Award Winner, a Spring 2024 Readers' Choice Book Award finalist in the adult book category and a 2024 Storytrade Book Award finalist in the contemporary fiction category. Also, "An Epiphany in Lilacs in a 2025 Firebird Book Award Winner in two categories--Holocaust and friendship; a 2025 Readers' Choice Book Award in Adult Fiction; a recipient of several Outstanding Creator Awards (Fall & Winter 2025) in categories that include Jewish literature (1st Place) and historical fiction (2nd place); and a 2025 Literary Global Book Award finalist in historical fiction and cover design-fiction.
I've also been a member of the Drama Desk, the League of Professional Theatre Women, the American Theater Critics Association, Actors Equity and AFTRA.