A Mile Wide – Portfolio

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Robert F. Roberts III

EDUCATION

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2003-2005 (completed: December 2005)
Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication: Focus in Multimedia Journalism

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 1992-1995
Bachelor of Arts in English, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Writer / Editor, Rock Creek Strategic Marketing, Washington, DC, Sept. 2009-present

• Provided on-site editorial and technical support for high-profile government client.

• Developed and edited web content in coordination with client’s new media team using HTML and CSS. Created and managed new media content inside a Drupal environment.

• Worked with new media team to develop tools that encouraged citizen participation and feedback in the governing process.

• Trained staff to create and edit content inside Drupal CMS.

• Created site analytics reports and coordinated with client team on traffic-building and social media strategies.

Adjunct Faculty, American University, Washington, DC, Jan. 2009-present

• Instructor for undergraduate and graduate level courses in video production and backpack journalism. Taught students principles of video, camera operation, editing in Final Cut Pro and storytelling skills.

• Led preliminary instruction in video for incoming master’s students as part of pre-program Multimedia Bootcamp.

Senior Video Editor, USA TODAY, McLean VA, July 2008-Sept. 2009

• Served as lead editor for reporter, photographer and freelance video content for the nation’s largest newspaper. Supervised staff of three video editors.

• Produced, shot and edited video content in the newsroom and in the field. Produced and developed live video streaming content for usatoday.com

• Trained reporters and editors in video field production, camera operation and basic editing.

• Implemented and developed promotional and social networking strategies for content. Maintained and moderated USA TODAY YouTube presence and daily promotion of product.

Multimedia Producer, News & Observer, Raleigh, NC, Sep. 2006-June 2008

• Developed video, audio, and Flash-based multimedia projects for daily newspaper with Sunday circulation of more than 200,000. Responsible for all phases of production including brainstorming with reporters and editors, content gathering design, production and delivery.

• Served as lead multimedia producer for coverage of ACC sports. Developed audio, video and Flash-based content, provided video coverage of games, and developed weekly video podcast.

• Served as front-line multimedia producer for breaking news and sports events including Duke lacrosse investigation coverage and ACC basketball tournament.

• Conducted training in audio and video gathering and editing and Internet technology for reporters, editors and producers.

Video Production Specialist, Institute for Science Learning, Chapel Hill, NC, Aug. 2003-Aug. 2006

• Performed video editing and production work for multimedia science learning initiative. Directed, shot, and edited promotional video materials as well as e-learning video modules. Developed DVD products and other materials for distribution.

• Provided technical and programming support for instructional multimedia projects.

• Served as teaching assistant for JOMC 188 – Interactive Multimedia Narratives. Developed teaching plans and led instruction in non-linear audio and video editing.

AWARDS & HONORS

First Place, NPPA Monthly Multimedia Contest, Feb. 2008
Multimedia Producer, Videographer for Great Eight 2008

Best of Photojournalism, Feature Video, 2008
First Place, NPPA Monthly Multimedia Contest, Jan. 2008
Multimedia Producer for Dail: Life Unbarred

President’s Award for Enterprise Journalism, McClatchy Corporation, 2007
Multimedia Producer for Speed Unlimited

President’s Award for Multimedia, McClatchy Corporation, 2007
Programmer for Monet in Normandy

Third Place, NPPA Monthly Multimedia Contest, May 2007
Producer for Building Gabby Mayo

Winner for Student Journalism, Online News Association, 2005
First Place, Multimedia, Independent, Best of Photojournalism Competition, 2005
Second Place, Multimedia, Independent, Pictures of the Year International, 2005
Gold Medal, Society for News Design, 2005
Audio/Video Coach and Design Team member for Chiloe Stories

Audience Choice Award, Asheville Film Festival, 2005
Official Selection, Northwest Folk Festival, OpenApp Film Festival, Piedmont Film Festival, 2005-06
Cratis D. Williams for outstanding student work, North Carolina Folklore Society, 2005
Co-producer and director of Madison County Project, a documentary film focusing on ballad singing tradition in a western North Carolina county

Institute for Science Learning Fellowship, 2003-2005
Two-year fellowship with full tuition for outstanding master’s student in multimedia.

Advisory Board Member & Contributing Filmmaker, Folkstreams.net
Helped guide evolution of an Internet archive of folklore documentary film

Honorary Kentucky Colonel
Honored for disaster relief efforts following flooding, severe storms, and tornadoes.

COMPUTER / RESEARCH SKILLS

Office/Research Applications: Microsoft Office, NeoOffice, Lexis-Nexis, academic and legal databases

Multimedia Applications: Final Cut Pro Studio, Adobe Production Suite (Flash, Photoshop, Audition, Premiere, Illustrator, Dreamweaver), Sorenson Squeeze, Soundslides, Blogging & Wiki Applications (including WordPress, B2Evolution, and Drupal), Content Management Systems

Programing Skills: Actionscript (advanced with AS2, transitioning to AS3), XML, HTML, CSS, some Javascript, PHP and mySQL

Special Skills: Video/Audio Field Production Techniques (Sony, Canon and Marantz equipment), Non-Linear Video/Audio Editing, Photography