Search Engine Journal
U.S. trade/industry — SEO and digital marketing
Background
Search Engine Journal was founded in 2003 by Loren Baker as a blog covering search engine optimization at a time when SEO was an emerging profession. It grew into one of the most-read trade publications in the digital marketing space, offering news, how-to guides, expert interviews, and research reports. The publication operates under the parent company Alpha Brand Media, which Jenise Uehara led as CEO for roughly two decades, building it into a community-driven resource with contributors from across the industry. In early 2026, Uehara stepped down and sold her ownership stake to Kevin Henrikson, marking the first major leadership transition in the outlet's history. Headquartered in the Boca Raton, Florida area, it runs a small staff augmented by a large pool of industry contributors. Because its coverage is tightly focused on search, SEO, and digital marketing rather than general news or politics, it has not attracted media-bias ratings or significant editorial controversies. When administration policy intersects with search or advertising markets — such as the DOJ antitrust case against Google or debates over Section 230 — the outlet reports from a practitioner's standpoint, assessing business impact rather than taking partisan positions.
Sources
- About Search Engine Journal
- Alpha Brand Media – Crunchbase
- Search Engine Journal – Crunchbase
- Jenise Uehara Henrikson – Muck Rack
- Loren Baker: Journey from Video Store Manager to Founder of Search Engine Journal
- SEO Community Resists Trump's Threat to Regulate Google Search – Search Engine Journal
- Search Engine Journal – The Org
Profile compiled 2026-08-12; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.