Kate Gannon - University of Texas at El Paso



Kate Gannon

El Paso, TX 79902 Email: kagannon@utep.edu Web:

Summary of Qualifications

Multimedia digital content professional – educator, journalist, writer, and editor – embracing the latest technologies to engage and inform communities and build advanced storytelling skills. Proven leader in directing award-winning news coverage, growing digital traffic and developing staff skills in digital communications. Multimedia trainer familiar with a variety of software programs used in video editing, sound editing and photography. Expertise in editorial content management systems and a variety of publishing platforms. Experienced as a social media trainer for professional and community networking. MFA thesis work in screenwriting and literary non-fiction.

Education

Bachelors of Arts, Journalism, University of Texas at El Paso

Master of Fine Arts, Bilingual Creative Writing, University of Texas at El Paso

Employment

University of Texas at El Paso

Associate Professor of Practice, Borderzine Digital Content Manager, Jan. 2019 - Present

Teach courses for the Department of Communication in newsgathering and investigation, audio and video production, new media tools, broadcast news and data journalism. Developed research course in Audio Reporting and Podcasting where student work is aired on public radio stations in Texas and published on the . Co-teach the digital news bureau capstone course, which runs on a “teaching hospital” model where the classroom is the newsroom. Students work as staff to produces text stories and multimedia for the Borderzine online magazine that covers life on the border.

As digital content manager, I develop and maintain the website as a showcase and competitive training tool for multicultural, multilingual student journalists who cover life on the U.S., Mexico border. This includes editing, aggregating, curating and creating content and social media that reaches a wide-ranging audience interested in border issues and serves to support Borderzine’s mission to promote diversity in news media by giving our students a professional portfolio platform.

Manage multimedia journalism lab and equipment

Led the web development and audio project components of a 2-year Online News Association grant-funded project that used media to engage communities across borders. The Our Border Life project launched online in summer 2020.

Director of the annual weeklong Multimedia Journalism Training Academy for professors from Hispanic-Serving Institutions funded through a grant from the Dow Jones News Fund.

University of Texas at El Paso

Assistant Professor of Practice, Borderzine Digital Content Manager, Dec. 2015 – Dec. 2018

Taught and developed emerging media and digital journalism courses. Served as digital content manager for , an innovative capstone project that gives students real-life experience in covering life on the border. Taught courses in multimedia journalism, news writing, data journalism, digital media entrepreneurship, social journalism, web production, audio, video and multi-platform news methods.

Managed multimedia journalism lab and equipment

University of Texas at El Paso

Lecturer, Borderzine Digital Content Manager, Aug. 2014 – Dec. 2015

Taught core journalism courses for the Department of Communication. Coached students in the Borderzine applied magazine course on stories and multimedia for publication in . Managed the website to showcase student work. Managed multimedia journalism lab and equipment.

Digitalegre, El Paso Texas

Digital Content Strategist, Jan. 2012 – Present

Providing customized consulting, coaching, writing, editing and digital content management services to help businesses and organizations grow their brands through digital channels. Working with clients on digital media strategies and helping develop new media channels such as websites, social media, blogs, mobile and more. Developing custom content such as blogs, videos, branding and public relations messaging based on clients’ needs.

University of Texas at El Paso

Adjunct faculty, Aug. 2013 – Aug. 2014

Taught courses on Introduction to Multimedia Writing and Video for Personal Expression.

El Paso Community College

Adjunct faculty, Aug. 2013 – May 2014

Taught courses on Writing for Mass Communications.

El Paso Times (Digital First Media)

Project Manager, May 2013 – Aug. 2103

Project manager on a major newsroom initiative to install a new content management system and consolidate newspaper page design operations for the El Paso Times and six New Mexico newspapers in the Texas-New Mexico Newspaper Partnership.

Worked with the staff to move all news page design and copy editing functions to a new hub in El Paso. Conducted training for reporters and editors on the Saxotech system at each of the sites and supervised live rollout of the system over a three-month period.

Coloradoan Media Group, Fort Collins, Co (Gannett)

New Media Development Manager of Content, Multimedia Editor Jan. 2006 – Dec. 2011

Launched new digital news products, web tools, developed multimedia and data content and provided training to successfully grow newspaper company Coloradoan Media Group’s digital operation into the leading news and information provider in Northern Colorado.

Served on the Coloradoan’s Operating Committee, managing company operations and initiatives.

• Managed the Fort Collins Coloradoan newsroom’s award winning multimedia news department.

• Conducted culture-change training for reporters and editors to shift from print focus to digital first. Project leader on company’s 2011 digital and social media immersion program

• Supervised Online Department staff in developing and implementing innovative journalism and advertising partnerships to drive traffic for and associated web products.

• Collaborated with newsroom staff and advertising department managers to create and feed special sections and daily web coverage to attract target audiences and increase revenue.

• Consistently grew page views, unique visitors and depth of readership and audience engagement over a 6-year period.

• Launched rich media ads, reader interaction, photo galleries, advertising and news video, mobile, text alerts and newsletters as well as new niche sites for moms, prep sports, special reports and databases.

El Paso Times, El Paso, TX (Gannett)

News Systems Editor, March 1996 – November 2005

Manager/editor for the newsroom’s New Media department for online, broadcasting, non-daily publication and electronic archiving.

• Managed the New Media department, with a staff of eight, produced daily web updates, radio newscasts, television news spots and multimedia projects, a Spanish-language weekly newspaper and a weekly community newspaper. Also managed editorial technology and training in the newsroom.

• Oversaw technology research, training and workflow issues for a newsroom staff of 80 people, including staff in bureau offices in Austin, Texas, and Las Cruces, N.M. Conducted computer-Assisted Reporting, Internet and pagination training for reporters and editors.

• Supervised the implementation of multi-million dollar Quark Pagination System editorial content management system.

• Led newsroom in conversion of the press to 50-inch Web. Worked on the conversion to a new press in August 1997

• Worked on logistics and consolidation of operations after the Oct. 1997 closing of the El Paso Herald-Post by Scripps Howard, which was the end of a joint operating agreement (JOA) with the El Paso Times.

• Project manager for the development and publication of new non-daily editorial products in English and Spanish.

• Project manager for newsroom Convergence, setting up TV and radio broadcasting systems.

• Project manager for newsroom conversion to digital photography in March, 1998.

• Member of the newspaper’s original Online Operating Committee responsible for developing and launching .

• Coordinated with all newspaper departments to increase volume, quality and frequency of online journalism and reader engagement.

El Paso Times

Zones Editor, April 1995 - March 1996

Planned, edited and directed weekly publication of three neighborhood editions (Northeast, West Side and East Side) covering local community issues. Managed a staff of four reporters and one assistant editor.

El Paso Times

Assistant Zones Editor, Jan. 1995 - April 1995

Assisted Zones and Business editors. Designed and edited weekly neighborhood editions and Sunday business pages.

El Paso Times

News Copy Editor, March 1987 - Jan. 1995

Gained expertise in all areas of the universal copy desk. Designed and edited features, business and local pages. Worked front page, wire and slot jobs. Won numerous in-house, Texas and New Mexico press awards for headlines and design.

El Paso Herald-post (Scripps-Howard)

News Copy Editor, May 1985 - Nov. 1985

Awards

• Colorado Press Association –

First Place Website Interactivity, 2010

Third Place Colorado Website, 2010

Second Place Colorado Website, 2009

• Colorado Associated Press Editors and Reporters Association -

Second Place Online Special Package 2010

First Place Online Special Package 2008

First Place Online Breaking News, 2007

First Place Online Special Package, 2007

• El Paso Times – Manager of the Year, 2004

• El Paso Times – Community Service Award, 2003

• El Paso Times – Community Service Award, 2002

• El Paso Times – Manager of the Year, 1999

• Texas Headliners Association - Charles E. Green Award, Headline writing 1989 winner in the mid-size newspaper category in the statewide contest of the Texas Headliners Foundation: “For demonstrating versatility in a range of headlines from complex international news reports to local feature articles.”

• Texas Associated Press Managing Editors – First Place page one makeup in Class AAA, 1994; First Place page one makeup in Class AAA, 1993; Second Place page design in Class AAA, 1992; Honorable Mention headline writing in Class AAA, 1989

Training and speaking experience

Dow Jones Multimedia Training Academy at UT El Paso: Director of an annual 1-week multimedia boot camp for college journalism instructors. June 2017 - present

Dow Jones Multimedia Training Academy at UT El Paso: Trainer for an annual 1-week multimedia boot camp for college journalism instructors. 2010-2016

National Association of Hispanic Journalists regional conference in El Paso: Trainer for basic data journalism hands-on session. March 2016

Journalism in July at UT El Paso: Trainer / Webmaster for 9-day high school journalism workshop.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Colorado State University: Fort Collins, Colorado. Co-taught course with Colorado Press Association president on The Fate of Traditional Media, Spring 2011.

A Free Press, The Internet and Social Media in American Journalism, Denver Friendship Force International: Speaker on social media during training for journalists and bloggers from Krygyz Republic. Aug. 2011.

Colorado Press Association Conference 2010 in Denver: Speaker on New Media practices for newsrooms.

Suburban Newspapers of America Interactive Media Symposium, Miami: Panelist on Video Opportunities – News & Advertising , May 2007.

Professional Development Workshop, Colorado Press Women, Denver: Speaker on how technology is reshaping news gathering and distribution. March 2007.

Associated Press NewsTrain, Albuquerque - Data coach for weekend of training professional journalists and students during the Associated Press NewsTrain conference in Albuquerque. Oct. 2019.

News Assistant program coordinator 1996-1998 - Conducted in-house training program to groom El Paso Times newsroom assistants for full-time positions on staff.

Workshops and Professional Development

• Poynter Institute’s “Teachapalooza” teaching methods intensive conference (July, 2020)

• UTEP Online Teaching Academy (May 2020)

• Society of Professional Journalists Coding in R – Attended training session on using R in data journalism during the Region 9 conference in Albuquerque (March 2019)

• Reynolds Week Fellow 2017 – Business Journalism program at Arizona State University.

Community and professional involvement

Journalism and Women Symposium, regional captain for JAWS Borderland

Womens Fund of El Paso, board member

Borderland Bloggers, organizer

Investigative Reporters and Editors, member

Online News Association, member

Southwest Public Relations Association, member

National Association of Hispanic Journalists, member

Previous community and professional involvement

National Federation of Press Women, member

Colorado Press Women, membership committee

Project Change - Board member of El Paso community taskforce aimed at helping mediate issues of institutional racism.

El Paso Red Cross - Board member El Paso Area Chapter

Texas Red Cross - Member state communications board

Executive Forum - Board Member, El Paso executive women’s leadership organization

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download