Michael Cervieri CV
Michael Cervieri is an Emmy Award winning producer who leads digital strategy, media production and communication teams. He’s developed and taught graduate level media, communications and technology courses at Columbia University. He was the founder of The Future Journalism Project.
Digital Director, Ronaut & Astrobot
Currently developing and implementing in-house media products, and developing digital strategies for clients to help them better understand, connect with and expand their audiences.
Media Director, Harmony Labs
Directed media strategies and 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, Screenwriters Colony, Sensorium Works and Institute of Play.
Founder, Future Journalism Project
Created this independent lab to explore disruption, opportunity and innovation in news media.
Notable Projects
Community Engagement
Organically grew an audience to the hundreds of thousands through a mix of digital strategies, editorial products and live event programming.
Editorial Development
Launched an online magazine, podcast series, video series and weekly newsletter with an international team of contributors.
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
Directed team that created and implemented media and technology strategies for this global nonprofit that uses video to document human rights abuse.
Notable Projects
Technology Strategy & Implementation
Redeveloped WITNESS Web properties; implemented platforms to distribute WITNESS' multilingual training materials; adopted 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 networks.
Editorial Development
Directed editorial strategies to increase owned, earned and shared media opportunities; developed new opportunities for media distribution across digital platforms; and implemented brand and design standards across the organization’s media properties.
Partner, ScribeLabs
Developed digital roadmaps, strategies, and editorial products and services for Fortune 100, nonprofits and startup companies. Managed internal editorial teams that created award-winning multimedia productions.
Notable Projects
Executive Producer, ScribeMedia.org
Directed a team of editors and producers for this online publication focusing on the business, technology and culture of digital media. Executive Produced, among others, Reporting AIDS, an Emmy Award winning Web video series; Perpetual Peace Project, a video series that premiered at the New Museum in New York City; and Postcards from Central Asia, a video series on post-Soviet development in Central Asia that premiered at Museo de Arte Contemporaneo in Spain.
Strategic Consulting
Advised Moldovan government ministries on how to build and engage communities around the country’s new e-government and open data initiatives; created media, technological and business roadmaps for both startups and established brands navigating digital media spaces.
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.
Director of Product Development, DLI
Directed software team to create this e-learning company's applications and those of its clients.
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.
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 constituent audiences.
Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism. 2007 - 2009
Adjunct Professor: Advisor to graduate digital media students working on their year-long Masters’ Projects and instructor of Web design and multimedia storytelling.
Yale University, Department of Political Science
A lecture exploring traditional power structures of established media in Western democracies alongside state-run and/or controlled media elsewhere, and how software code is now 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 on 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
Presented topics on open versus closed networks, e-governance and the future of Internet as part of a broader panel on Policy Making in the Digital Age.
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism — MS
Digital Media.
Columbia University — BA
Double Concentration in Philosophy and English. Dean’s List.