Franklin D. Robertson
Brookings, SD 57006
phone: 614.441.6681 email: me@pixelessence.com web: pixelessence.com
Twitter: @FranklyPhoto Instagram: @FranklyPhoto
Overview:
Award-winning photojournalist with teaching, leadership and managerial skills and experiences. Passionate about serving his community as an editor, supervisor, instructor and mentor. Recognized as a Newspaper Network of Central Ohio Top 25 employee. Discovered as an editor then reaffirmed through mentorship and teaching that accomplishments made by those supervised, mentored and instructed — whether they be awards, accolades or just plain great work — have been and are the most rewarding. Energized by helping others do great work while growing in the process. Skilled and experienced in digital imaging and related software and hardware. Praises from students, faculty, co-workers and supervisors speak to skills in effective communication, organization and time management that supports my passion, patience and drive.
Experience:
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication; South Dakota State University; Brookings, South Dakota — August 2017-Present
Instructor:
Adapted and developed traditional and online courses to instruct students in the history, ethics, knowledge and application of skills in Basic Photography, Advanced Photography, Multiplatform Storytelling, Photojournalism, and Digital Media. Coordinate and guide assignments and projects on an individual basis in lab environments as well as outside of class to ensure comprehension and solve problems.
The EIJ News; New Orleans, Louisiana — September 2016
Intern:
Served as a Native American Journalism Fellow on a team of over a dozen interns staffing The EIJ News, a professionally lead and student staffed online news organization that covered the Excellence in Journalism conference hosted by the SPJ and RTDNA in collaboration with NAJA. Responsibilities included generating story ideas, developing sources for storytelling on multiple platforms including written stories, photographs, live video streams and social media for publication and curation on EIJNews.org via WordPress.
Chillicothe Gazette Media; Chillicothe, Ohio — 2005-2015
Multimedia Editor, 2007-2015:
Coordinate content from all departments to structure a cohesive report that delivers local news with the greatest impact to readers both in print and online, including daily responsibility for morning website content rollover from 2007-09. Supervise and develop processes for visual storytelling through video production and photography. Work closely with other editors to shape news coverage plans for the paper and web. Supervise Photo Department. Continue performing duties and responsibilities of Staff Photojournalist including promoting and marketing content through social media.
Staff Photojournalist, 2005-07:
Cover a wide range of photography assignments on deadline; visually communicate the news and assignments of the day effectively, gather and write accurate and complete cutline information; work closely with editors and reporters to ensure proper and accurate coverage. Created and produced paper’s first two podcasts. Research photography purchases and make recommendations to the editor. Handle Purchase Orders and communications with vendors for purchases and repairs.
South Dakota State University; Brookings, South Dakota — 1998-2003
Multimedia Coordinator, 2002-03:
Coordinate the installation and maintenance of a multimedia lab (including tools and software for digital video, digital photography and CD-ROM creation). Instruct university faculty and student tech-fellows in the use of multimedia tools and applications.
Photojournalism Instructor, 2001-02:
Effectively instruct approximately 75 students per semester in the skills and history of Basic Photography, Advanced Photography and Photojournalism. Coordinate student projects and work on an individual basis with students in a lab environment and out of class to ensure comprehension and solve problems. Maintain digital photography lab, including 12 Macintosh workstations, four negative/slide scanners and film wet lab.
Senior Photographer, 1998-2001:
Photograph university events, people and places while overseeing and managing the work of one half-time photographer and two student photographers. Manage university’s photography archive and photography lab, developing black-and-white and slide film using a Wing-Lynch processor and making black-and-white prints. Instruct university faculty and customers in Adobe Photoshop and photography skills while assisting them in incorporating photography into their curriculum.
Sioux Falls Argus Leader; Sioux Falls, SD — 1996-1998
Staff Photojournalist
Cover a wide range of photography assignments on deadline; visually communicate the news and assignments of the day effectively, gather accurate and complete cutline information; work closely with editors and reporters to ensure proper and accurate coverage; assist Photo Chief in managing the photography department.
Aberdeen American News; Aberdeen, SD — 1995-1996
Staff Photojournalist
Cover a wide range of photography assignments on deadline; visually communicate the news and assignments of the day effectively, gather accurate and complete cutline information; work closely with editors and reporters to ensure proper and accurate coverage.
Education:
South Dakota State University; Brookings, SD
Master of Mass Communication
• Graduated in August 2017
• Developed an Advanced Mulit-Platform Storytelling course with an emphasis on mobile tools for gathering, editing, producing and publishing, as the MMC Professional Project.
• 4.0 GPA throughout program
Bachelor of Arts in News Editorial Journalism, minors in Political Science and American Indian Studies
• Graduated with High Honors in 1995
• Acted as Photo Editor for two of the three years on staff of student newspaper, The Collegian.
• Participated in numerous department projects, including Native American arts, state legislative session and Day in the Life of Freeman.
• Participated in SDSU Native American Club, including serving as president.
Skills:
• Advanced ability with photography software including Photoshop, Photo Mechanic, iPhoto, iOS ProCam and Snapseed.
• Intermediate ability with multimedia software including Avid Xpress Pro, iMovie (Mac/iOS), Saxotech, CCI Newsgate, Presto, Brightcove and Livestream.
• Advanced experience with Apple hardware including multiple models of desktops, laptops, iPods, iPhones and iPads.
• Advanced experience with Apple software from MacOS 7.5 through current and iOS 2.0 through current.
• Other relevant experience: Social media, self-taught HTML, MS Office and Windows OS.
Activities:
Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies, Columbus, Ohio
Instructor, January 2015 and 2016: Coordinated with OACAA Communications Director Kathryn Clausen to create and lead a session titled “Publicity, photography, confidentiality and sensitivity: Finding a balance” during the organization’s 2015 Winter Legislative Conference.
Ross County Sheriff’s Office, Chillicothe, Ohio
Instructor, November 2014: Coordinated with Lt. Mike Preston to lead a class instructing detectives from the Sheriff’s office in camera operation and theory to help them better document scenes and evidence in the course of their investigations.
Child Protection Center of Ross County Kid's Day, Chillicothe, Ohio
Instructor, April 2008-2010 and April 2012-2015: Instruct children in the basics of photography and making better pictures, including hands-on assignments.
Crazy Horse Journalism Workshop – Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer, SD
Faculty/Mentor, April 2000-03, 2005 and 2011: Work with high school and college students as teacher, mentor and editor as they are introduced to journalism by creating a newspaper and an online publication.
Service:
Native American Journalists Association
• Native American Journalists Fellows, mentor
• Education Committee, member
South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
• Search Committee for the inaugural director of the School of Communication and Journalism, member
• Camelot Intermediate School Education Week's "Educator for a Day," November 2017, presenter
Professional Development:
• Gannett #TurboVideo Training, 2013: Three-day workshop featuring video storytelling techniques using the iPhone to capture and iOS apps to edit and upload completed stories for publishing.
• Gannett Interstate Group’s Leadership 5.0 Program, 2009-10: Six-month inaugural program featuring workshops exploring leadership methods and styles including vision, courage, people, inspiration and achievement.
• The Poynter Leadership for Today's New Managers, The Poynter Institute, 2009: Week-long workshop exploring all aspects of management such as leadership, time management, difficult conversations, change, ethics and our own personal development plans.
• Gannett Video Convergence Training, February and November 2007: Multi-day workshops featuring video storytelling techniques using Sony DV camera and Avid editing software.
Awards:
2014 Ohio APME Newspaper Awards - Div. I
• 1st Place - Best Photographer
• 1st and 3rd Place - Best News Photo
• 1st and 3rd Place - Best Sports Photo
• 2nd Place - Best Photo Essay
• 1st Place - Best Information Graphic
• 1st Place - Best Illustration
2014 Ohio Public Image Awareness Awards
• Award of Merit for Photography (publication w/circulation below 100,000)
2014 South Dakota State University Journalism and Mass Communications Department
• Distinguished Alumni Award
2013 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Awards - Div. III
• 1st Place - Photography
2013 Gannett Awards of Excellence, 2nd Quarter
• 2nd Place (staff) - Public Service Journalism
2012 Ohio APME Awards - Div. II
• 1st Place - Best General News Photo
2009-10 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Awards
• 2nd, 3rd and 5th Place
2010 APSO Awards - Div. II
• 2nd Place - Best Feature Photo
• 3rd Place - Best Photographer
2009 APSO Awards - Division II
• Honorable Mention - Best Community Service
2008 APSO Awards - Division II
• 1st Place - Best Web Site
2006 APSO Contest - Div. III
• 2nd Place - Best Spot News Photo
• 2nd Place - Best Sports Photo
• 3rd Place - Best Photographer
1998 SDNA Better Newspaper Contest
• 1st Place - Best Sports Photo
• 2nd Place - Best Photo Series
• 3rd Place - Best Color Feature
1997 SDNA Better Newspaper Contest
• 2nd Place - Best Spot News Photo
• 2nd Place - Best Feature Photo
• 3rd Place - Best Photo Series
1996 SDNA Better Newspaper Contest
• 3rd Place - Best Photo Series
• 3rd Place - Best Sports Photo
• Honorable Mention - Best Feature Photo
Professional Membership
• Native American Journalists Association
• National Press Photographers Association