PatrickLafferty.com

Professional Experience (click each title for details or download a PDF)

Directed the Digital Media Center and all computer labs distributed throughout the Art and Design building, with annual revenues exceeding $80,000
Managed a staff of 14 full-time and student employees
Created and continually developed the audio, video and web presence of the Department of Art and the Department of Design
Served as the technical faculty liaison, integrating technology in the classroom
Implemented VOIP and video conferencing technology for international lectures
Directed acquisition and implementation of multimedia technology for the departments
Implemented content management systems to support intra-office and web applications
Created a dynamic FAQ system for greater customer satisfaction and JIT training capabilities
Developed and refined technical standards and best practices for the departments
Mentored students with class projects and career development

Lecturer/Mentor
The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
May 2007 - October 2007

Created and led the “Innovation Incubator” for The University of Kansas under grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s 21st Century News Challenge
Taught and mentored five KU students through the development, critique and presentation of their news innovation, “VoxPop”, at the Online News Association convention in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Guided 35 students from seven leading national academic institutions towards creative solutions to digital news problems

New Media Faculty
Kansas Journalism Institute, Lawrence, KS
April 2007 - August 2007

Created the “new media” curriculum for the Kansas Journalism Institute
Taught high school students from across the nation how to blog, shoot small video packages, create slideshows with Soundslides and create netcasts of their experiences at KJI, emphasizing SEO methods and web best practices

Directed a staff of 12 online producers, 77 multimedia reporters and 48 multimedia editors
Produced web-ready audio, video and text content daily
Redesigned and continually developed KUJH Online web site and eHub blogs
Managed and maintained 42 sites using proprietary and vended web publishing systems
Developed and refined online journalism standards and best practices
Provided technical instruction and support to students and faculty in the methods and systems for web content creation, including JIT training and documentation
Lectured in and assisted in the teaching of online journalism courses
Mentored students with class projects and career development

Developed the Knight Foundation’s Covering Communities project web site with the goal of improving community contact and representation via web tools for journalists and community leaders
Taught science writing students to maximize reach with multimedia content and blogging software
Updated a 1999 study on stem cell research news coverage and a content analysis of broadcast and print coverage of the anthrax attacks of late 2001

Communications Intern
Andrews McMeel Universal, Kansas City, MO
June 2005 - August 2005

Published feature stories, news releases, and biographies in national and international media
Researched, wrote, and edited supplemental materials for new feature sales kits
Compiled and edited media clip highlight reports for distribution to AMU editors and staff

Claim Representative
The Hartford, Overland Park, KS
October 2003 - May 2004

Promoted from Claim Technician to Claim Representative after three months
Achieved equitable and timely workers’ compensation claim dispositions, assessment of expense exposure and excellent customer service
Developed a modern system for inter- and intra-office electronic document creation to streamline and standardize jurisdictional output
Awarded Manager’s Citations for Innovation and for Excellence
Appointed to The Hartford Future Business Model Workflow Improvement Committee and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Technical Skills (click for details)

Education

Master of Science, Journalism & Mass Communications
William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications
The University of Kansas, May 2006

Bachelor of Science, Business Administration
The University of Kansas, May 2001

Patrick T. Lafferty