Community Highlights: Meet Shannon Doyle Bell of Upper Westside Atlanta Magazine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Doyle Bell.

Hi Shannon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a storyteller and a connector. I recently launched a hyper-local, independently operated publication called *Upper Westside Atlanta Magazine*, and it has been embraced and celebrated by the community. It’s been incredibly rewarding to introduce neighbors and business owners to one another.

As it becomes increasingly difficult to navigate both the internet and Atlanta’s streets and highways, it’s more important than ever to embrace, elevate, and invest in your local community. This is my way of doing that. My hope is that more people will learn about each other and support one another, patronizing their local butcher or coffee shop over big chains.

I still currently work in communications for local nonprofits in the area. Before that, I spent 20 years working across a wide range of media. I’m talking satellite radio to podcasts. Talk show producing, story producing, documentary films and series. I even had a stint at the Weather Channel. We moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta in 2009. I grew up in Michigan and was born in Brooklyn, New York. I’ve lived many lifetimes.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been the most windy, bumpy ride with hail storms, hurricanes, tornadoes and earth quakes. Literally!
I have seen and experienced more than I could write here, but I learned to start building a road that works for me. If have to work hard to get down the road, you might as well enjoy the ride knowing that you’ve created the pathway and own it for yourself.

Television and film taught me grit. It’s a field that has no straight pipeline – at least not for me. The college kid that came from the midwest to Hollywood with know clear plans but great expectations. I realized that following the story and the way in which you tell it is a great way to guide the next move, so long as it pays that bills!

Making decisions about my career as a mother for three was and is probably the most challenging. Trying to find what pays well enough to put food on the table and a respectable organization while also making their basketball games and dance recitals is a hurdle I never seemed to learn to jump. When I started rising the ranks in my career there were less woman, and certainly less moms. The few that were there had solid resources to support them. I’m not talking afterschool care. I’m talking live-in help, whether hired or family.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I built a community magazine from the ground up to help neighbors see, support, and show up for one another.

I’m the owner and operator of SDB-360, doing business as Upper Westside Atlanta Magazine. We’re a print and digital publication that also offers landing pages for articles, newsletters, events, and a touch of social promotion. I wear many hats, overseeing everything from Adobe InDesign and writing to accounting, hiring, and firing. In many ways, it’s not all that different from executive producing a documentary or podcast: deadlines have to be met, advertising revenue has to be secured, and the audience has to care enough to read and engage.

What I’m most proud of is building this publication independently. I explored a franchise model but ultimately decided it didn’t feel authentic to me or to the community. I didn’t want to be boxed in. I live in a gem of an Atlanta neighborhood that is truly unique in its history, residents, and businesses. In many ways, it’s still defining its identity, so I approach it with care and a strong sense of responsibility. I’m protective of that.

With each issue, we host community events that bring local businesses together to connect and engage, it’s one of the most rewarding parts of the work. I’m proud to offer services that help business owners tell their stories, elevate their brands, and reinforce their investment in and commitment to the community.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Beach trips to Lake Michigan (the BIG lake). My grandma lived in a super small West Michigan beach town that had a large ferry port we would watch dock before grabbing an ice cream cone and playing in the sand. The motto is, “No Sharks. No Salt. No worries.” It was as simple as could be and I loved it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.upperwestsideatlanta.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upperwestsideatlanta/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581439238259
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-doyle-bell/