Roberts Rob

Rob Roberts

Digital Strategist
Name:Roberts Rob
Date of birth:
Address:Washington, DC
Phone:
Email:rob@robroberts.net
Website:smoottewes.com
Rob Roberts began his career in digital media in 1996 when he was hired to edit sports and Olympic coverage for Agence France Press and sportsreport.com. Since then, his career has spanned journalism, government, grassroots and advocacy, and academics. He has worked in a number of high-level assignments, from producing video of the response to the September 11th attacks to covering the 2008 elections to working in the White House. Currently, Rob serves as the Digital Principal for the Smoot Tewes Group in Washington, DC.

Awards & Honors

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1. Professional Honors

Best of Photojournalism, Feature Video, National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), 2008
First Place, NPPA Monthly Multimedia Contest, Jan. 2008

  • Multimedia Producer for Dail: Life Unbarred

First Place, NPPA Monthly Multimedia Contest, Feb. 2008

  • Producer, Video Journalist for Great Eight 2008

First Place, Interactive Feature, North Carolina Press Association

  • Producer, Video Journalist for Great Eight 2007

Third Place, Multimedia, NPPA Monthly Multimedia Content, May 2007

  • Multimedia Producer for Building Gabby Mayo
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2. Academic Honors

Winner for Student Journalism, Online News Association, 2005
Best of Photojournalism, Multimedia, Independent, 2005
Second Place, Multimedia, Independent, Pictures of the Year International, 2005
Gold Medal, Society for News Design, 2005

Audience Choice Award, Asheville Film Festival, 2005
Official Selection, Northwest Folk Festival, OpenApp Film Festival, Piedmont Film Festival, 2005
Cratis D. Williams prize for outstanding student work, North Carolina Folklore Society 2005

  • Co-producer and director of documentary film and companion web site focusing on ballad singing tradition in a western North Carolina county

Presenter, AEJMC Southeast Colloquium, Tampa, FL March 2004

  • Presented paper “The Transformative Doctrine and Fan Media” to the Law Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Education.

Institute for Science Learning Fellowship, 2003-2005

  • Two-year fellowship with full tuition for outstanding master’s student in multimedia.

Education

2003-2005

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

M.A., Multimedia Journalism

Awarded the Institute for Science Learning Fellowship, a  two-year fellowship with full tuition for an outstanding student in multimedia journalism.

1992-1995

2. University of Utah

B.A., English and Political Science

Earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Political Science.

Employment

2014-2016

1. Smoot Tewes Group

Digital Principal

Led digital team at top-tier DC political consulting firm. Provided creative services, digital advertising, grassroots list building, and overall digital strategy for a wide variety of clients in renewable energy, conservation, and campaign finance reform. Responsible for business development and client relations.

Highlights:

  • Developed digital strategies encompassing content creation, online advertising plans, social media strategies, and social media plans for national, regional and state-based efforts.
  • Conceived and managed the development of websites and video content for energy and environmental clients.
2012-2014

2. U.S. Department of Energy

Director of Digital Strategy

Oversaw digital presence for cabinet-level agency, including agency flagship site Energy,gov and associated social media properties. Managed multi-million dollar budget and supervised team of editors, developers and multimedia specialists. Realized significant savings of taxpayer dollars by consolidating department web presence and leading transition from proprietary systems to open-source solutions. Highly involved in Federal digital efforts to streamline operations, provide open data, and increase government access and transparency.

Highlights:

  • Nearly quadrupled web traffic, tripled number of Twitter followers, and expanded agency social media presence, including establishing first Secretary of Energy Twitter account.
  • Led effort to make Energy.gov the first cabinet-level fully responsive, mobile-friendly website.
  • Successfully migrated more than 20 program and staff offices to a single open-source platform, hosting more than 60,000 pieces of content and more than 200 active users.
2009-present

3. American University

Adjunct Professor

Served as instructor for undergraduate and graduate courses in video production and digital skills. Developed syllabi and provided instruction in principles of video, camera operation, nonlinear digital video editing, and storytelling skills.

Highlights:

  • Twice served as instructor for capstone documentary video class for graduate broadcast students.
  • Consistently highly-rated professor known for hands-on teaching style and accessiblity.
  • Former students highly sought after and working at organizations like Washington Post, CNN, ABC News, Fox News and Al Jazeera America.
2011-2012

4. Rock Creek Strategic Marketing

Senior Program Manager

Developed and supervised implementation of digital media strategies for commercial, government, and nonprofit clients.  Led teams of designers, developers, and strategists in developing websites, social media campaigns, multimedia applications, and print collateral. Wrote and edited blog posts, social media messaging, print and email copy.

Highlights:

  • Produced live web broadcast and developed digital media strategy for State Department event on encouraging entrepreneurship among woman in developing nations, moderated by Nicholas Kristoff and featuring Secretary Hillary Clinton.
  • Developed and oversaw implementation of branding and digital strategy for Gates Foundation-funded education consortium Activate Ed.
2009-2011

5. Rock Creek Strategic Marketing

Content Editor / Producer

Provided on-site editorial, training and technical support for White House Office of New Media. Worked with client to transition WhiteHouse.gov from legacy site to an open-source Drupal environment. Coordinated migration of subsites and led training in new CMS for staff and interns. Developed and created new media content using HTML and CSS.

Highlights:

2008-2009

6. USA Today

Senior Video Editor

Served as lead editor for reporter, photographer and freelance video content for the nation’s largest newspaper. Managed daily flow of all video content on the USA Today website. Produced, shot and edited video content for the newsroom and in the field.

Highlights:

  • Coordinated video efforts to support coverage of the 2008 election, including interactive debate features, election night coverage, and live video streaming of Presidential inauguration.
2006-2008

7. Raleigh News & Observer

Multimedia Producer

Conceived and developed video, audio and multimedia projects for daily newspaper the Raleigh News & Observer. Served as lead multimedia producer for ACC sports. Developed cross-platform content, provided video coverage of games and produced weekly video podcast.

Highlights:

  • Multimedia producer for award-winning story on exoneration of wrongfully accused man.
  • Established paper as pioneer in video streaming capablilities and video coverage of sports.

 

Skills