Michael Cervieri CV

CV

Michael Cervieri is an Emmy Award winning storyteller who leads media production and communications teams. He’s taught graduate level journalism, communications and technology courses at Columbia University. He was the founder of The Future Journalism Project.
Experience

Media Director, Ronaut & Astrobot - Current

Currently integrating media and communication layers over clients’ existing products and services to help them better understand, connect with and expand their audiences; designing and developing client web sites; and creating in-house media products.

Media Director, Harmony Labs - May 2017 - October 2017

Directed media strategies and related projects at this applied data group that explores the production, distribution, consumption and effects of entertainment, social and news media.

NOTABLE ACTIVITY

Virtual Reality Action Lab

Managed and led project that brought together award-winning media makers, researchers and educators to create socially responsible virtual reality experiences. Executed in partnership with Google, The Screenwriters Colony, Sensorium Works and Institute of Play.

Founder, Future Journalism Project - 2011-2017

Created this independent lab with international contributors to explore disruption, opportunity and innovation in news media.

NOTABLE INITIATIVES

Community Engagement
Organically grew an audience to the hundreds of thousands through a mix of editorial products, strategic collaborations and live event programming.
Editorial Development
Published an online magazine and produced podcast and video series that explored local, national and international challenges and opportunities in the news ecosystem.
Event Production
Hosted monthly events that brought together news producers and consumers to discuss current events and explore better ways to produce, consume and understand the news.

DIGITAL DIRECTOR, WITNESS - 2013-2016

Led team that created and implemented media, engagement and technology strategies for this global nonprofit that supports media activists in their efforts to document human rights abuse.

NOTABLE ACTIVITIES

Community Engagement

Cultivated an international network of human rights advocates with the tools and resources needed to co-create and collaborate at a global scale.

Technology Strategy & Implementation

Redesigned and developed WITNESS’ multilingual web properties; implemented applications to better communicate with, respond to and track interactions with constituent audiences; and provided integrated publishing, communications and social media toolkits for stakeholders to interact and integrate with targeted, global networks.

Editorial Development

Directed editorial strategies to increase owned, earned and shared media opportunities; developed new opportunities for media distribution across mobile platforms; and implemented brand and design standards across the organization’s media properties.

PARTNER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, SCRIBELABS - 2005-2011

Managed editorial teams that created award-winning multimedia productions and developed editorial products and services for clients such as Google, Microsoft, Adobe, IBM, The Producers Guild of America and the Advertising Research Foundation among others.

NOTABLE ACTIVITIES

Executive Producer
Directed a team of editors and videographers for ScribeMedia.org, the company’s online publication focusing on the business, technology and culture of digital media.
Strategic Consulting
Created media and communications strategies to build, engage and activate communities for clients ranging from startups and established brands to governmental ministries.

NATIONAL NEWS EDITOR, SAUDI GAZETTE - 2003-2004

Rebranded and guided the development this English-language newspaper with an international team of editors to create a liberal voice promoting reform in Saudi Arabia and, of course, wrote, assigned and edited the daily national news.

SENIOR EDITOR, BLUE MAGAZINE - 1996-1998, 2002-2003

Founding editor of this award-winning international culture and travel magazine.

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, DLI - 1998-2001

Directed a software team to create this e-learning company’s applications and those of its clients.

Media Director, Ronaut & Astrobot

Currently integrating media and communication layers over clients' existing products and services to help them better understand, connect with and expand their audiences; designing and developing client web sites; and creating in-house media products.
Current
May 2017 - October 2017

Media Director, Harmony Labs

Directed media strategies and related projects at this applied data group that explores the production, distribution, consumption and effects of entertainment, social and news media.

Notable Projects

Virtual Reality Action Lab
Managed and led project that brought together award-winning media makers, researchers and educators to create socially responsible virtual reality experiences. Executed in partnership with Google, The Screenwriters Colony, Sensorium Works and Institute of Play.

Founder, Future Journalism Project

Created this independent lab with international contributors to explore disruption, opportunity and innovation in news media.

Notable Initiatives

Community Engagement
Organically grew an audience to the hundreds of thousands through a mix of editorial products, strategic collaborations and live event programming.
Editorial Development
Published an online magazine and produced podcast and video series that explored local, national and international challenges and opportunities in the news ecosystem.
Event Production
Hosted monthly events that brought together news producers and consumers to discuss current events and explore better ways to produce, consume and understand the news.
2011-2017
2013 - 2016

Digital Director, WITNESS

Led team that created and implemented media, engagement and technology strategies for this global nonprofit that supports media activists in their efforts to document human rights abuse.

Notable Activities

Technology Strategy & Implementation
Redesigned and developed WITNESS' multilingual web properties; implemented applications to better communicate with, respond to and track interactions with constituent audiences; and provided integrated publishing, communications and social media toolkits for stakeholders to interact and integrate with targeted, global networks.
Community Engagement
Cultivated an international network of human rights advocates with the tools and resources needed to co-create and collaborate at a global scale.
Editorial Development
Directed editorial strategies to increase owned, earned and shared media opportunities; developed new opportunities for media distribution across mobile platforms; and implemented brand and design standards across the organization’s media properties.

Partner, Executive Producer, ScribeLabs

Managed editorial teams that created award-winning multimedia productions and developed editorial products and services for clients such as Google, Microsoft, Adobe, IBM, The Producers Guild of America and the Advertising Research Foundation among others.

Notable Activities

Executive Producer
Directed a team of editors and videographers for ScribeMedia.org, the company's online publication focusing on the business, technology and culture of digital media.
Strategic Consulting
Created media and communications strategies to build, engage and activate communities for clients ranging from startups and established brands to governmental ministries.
2005 - 2011
2003 - 2004

National News Editor, Saudi Gazette

Rebranded and guided the development this English-language newspaper with an international team of editors to create a liberal voice promoting reform in Saudi Arabia.

Senior Editor, Blue Magazine

Founding editor of this award-winning international culture and travel magazine.
1996-1998, 2002-2003
1998 - 2001

Director of Product Development, DLI

Directed software team to create this e-learning company's applications and those of its clients.

Honors

Emmy Award Winner, Advanced Media

Reporting AIDS: Web-based video series on HIV/AIDS politics, science and advocacy.

Webby Awards Official Honoree, Technology Coverage

China’s Next Great Wall: Video on a photovoltaic installation created for the Olympic games.

Teaching

Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs. 2009 - 2010

Adjunct Professor: Designed curriculum and taught graduate courses on global Internet and mobile policies and platforms, and how NGO’s, Non-Profits, Governmental Agencies and Citizen Journalists use technologies to communicate with and activate constituent audiences.

Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism. 2007 - 2009

Adjunct Professor: Advised graduate digital media students working on their year-long Masters’ Projects and instructed a studio course on Web design and multimedia storytelling.

Appearances

Yale University, Department of Political Science

A lecture exploring how the code underlying our software platforms is both an avenue for new press freedoms and further suppression and control.

Columbia University, SIPA

Disruption in traditional news organizations has given non-traditional players such as NGOs and non-profits the ability to participate in and drive the news cycle.

Fashion Institute of Technology

As organizations in all fields become publishers, a set of best practices for entering the digital media world.

Online News Association

An overview of how online information ecosystems work and strategies for how independent news organizations can make their works known, shared and influential.

American Society of Journalists and Authors

The opportunities and pitfalls of using online video for brand building and marketing.

Columbia University, SIPA

An investigation into open versus closed networks, e-governance and the future of the Internet as part of a broader conference on Policy Making in the Digital Age.

Education

Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism — MS

Digital Media.

Columbia University — BA

Double Concentration in Philosophy and English. Dean’s List.

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