Patrick Lafferty

Current

• Multimedia Communications Consultant at patricklafferty.com

Past

• Director of Multimedia and Technology at The University of Kansas
• Lecturer at The University of Kansas
• New Media Faculty Member at Kansas Journalism Institute

• Multimedia Newsroom Coordinator at The University of Kansas
• Web Guru/Graduate Research Assistant at The University of Kansas
• Web Producer at KUJH Online
• Communications Intern at Andrews McMeel Universal
• Claim Representative at The Hartford Insurance Group
• Recreation and Travel Coordinator at Student Union Activities
• Supervisor at Policy Research Institute (The University of Kansas)
• Intern at Spectrum Economics

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Education

• University of Kansas
• University of Kansas School of Law
• University of Kansas

• University of Kansas
• Shawnee Mission South

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2 more...

Recommended

11 people have recommended Patrick

Connections

159 connections

Industry

Online Media

Websites

• My Website
• My Blog

Patrick Lafferty’s Summary

An innovative team player who looks both inside and outside the box for solutions. Five years experience developing and communicating through multimedia platforms. Award-winning multimedia management skills and hands-on experience working with professional and student content producers, developers, and designers. Content development for television, radio, print and online.

Patrick Lafferty’s Specialties:

Project management, writing, multimedia production, journalism education, training, process analysis, research, technical documentation, consulting.

Patrick Lafferty’s Experience

• Multimedia Communications Consultant

  patricklafferty.com

  (Media Production industry)

  January 2006 — Present (3 years 11 months)

  I developed a new interface and aesthetic for the Associated Press Managing Editors National Credibility Roundtables Project web site, apme-credibility.org. The site is the repository of research and reports of this Ford Foundation-funded project that promotes continuing communication between the public and the press, encouraging journalists to build better news practices. The new site went live in May 2006. My affiliation with the project ended in June 2006.
  
  In July 2007, I began ongoing pro-bono work as "Web Guru" to Project: Katrina Hope (projectkatrinahope.com). The project was initiated by a KU journalism student frustrated by a lack of positive coverage about the volunteer efforts.
  
  The major venture of Project: Katrina Hope is a documentary focused on the people (nearly 80% volunteers) who provide this hope to New Orleans residents. They come from all over the country to donate their time, talents, and money, with no expectation of return.

• Director of Multimedia and Technology

  The University of Kansas

  (Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)

  August 2007 — June 2008 (11 months)

  I directed the Digital Media Center and all computer labs distributed throughout the Art and Design building, with annual revenues exceeding $80,000. I managed a staff of 14 employees and directed the acquisition of multimedia technology for the Art and Design building.
  
  At the same time, I created the audio, video and Web presence of the Department of Art and the Department of Design. Once in position, I implemented content management systems to support intra-office and Web applications. I developed and refined technical standards and best practices for the departments.
  
  In addition to my management function, I served as the technical faculty liaison, developing greater integration of technology in the classroom, including implementation of VOIP and video conferencing technology for international faculty lectures. In this capacity, I provided technical instruction and support to both students and faculty. I also mentored students with class projects and career development.

• Lecturer

  The University of Kansas

  (Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)

  August 2006 — October 2007 (1 year 3 months)

  I lectured in and assisted in the teaching of all online journalism courses at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
  
  I 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. In doing so, I 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, Alberta, Canada. At the same time, I worked to guide 35 students from the seven parallel "incubators" towards creative solutions to digital news problems. The participating schools were: Michigan State, The University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Western Kentucky University, Ithaca College, University of Nevada-Las Vegas and St. Michael’s College.

• New Media Faculty Member

  Kansas Journalism Institute

  (Educational Institution; 11-50 employees; Online Media industry)

  April 2007 — August 2007 (5 months)

  I created and developed the “new media” curriculum for the Kansas Journalism Institute. In doing so, I taught High School students from around the country just what this "new media" thing is all about. The students learned how to blog, shoot small video packages, created slideshows using Soundslides and created netcasts of their experience at KJI. The lectures emphasized SEO methods and Web best practices.

• Multimedia Newsroom Coordinator

  The University of Kansas

  (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

  August 2006 — August 2007 (1 year 1 month)

  I directed a staff of 12 online producers, 77 multimedia reporters and 48 multimedia editors in the KUJH Multimedia Newsroom. My team won many regional and national awards while producing Web-ready audio/visual and written content for the daily news cycle. My responsibilities included redesigning and continually developing the KUJH Online Web site and eHub (MovableType) blogs. I managed and maintained 42 sites on two servers using proprietary and vended Web publishing systems.
  
  I developed and refined online journalism standards and best practices for the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. At the same time, I provided technical instruction and support to students and faculty in the methods and systems for Web content creation, including JIT training and documentation.
  
  Additionally, I mentored students with class projects and career development.

• Web Guru/Graduate Research Assistant

  The University of Kansas

  (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

  December 2005 — July 2006 (8 months)

  I developed the John S. and James L. 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.
  
  Concurrently, I taught Dr. Kristen Swain’s Science and Medical Writing students to maximize message reach with multimedia content and blogging software. I produced kiosk-ready content based on the students' reporting and kiosk videos for use at KU’s Multidisciplinary Research Building.
  
  In addition to my teaching duties, I assisted Dr. Swain in updating her 1999 study on stem cell research coverage and performed a content analysis of broadcast/print coverage of the anthrax attacks of late 2001.

• Web Producer

  KUJH Online

  (Educational Institution; 11-50 employees; Internet industry)

  August 2005 — December 2005 (5 months)

  I coordinated and updated tv.ku.edu website with breaking news and daily newscasts from our television production staff, while producing in-depth stories with individual reporters. I created and managed web-ready audio-visual and text content.
  
  I taught undergraduate and graduate students the methods and systems for web content creation necessary for multimedia reporting courses. Of note, I worked with newsroom staff to design and implement podcasting capabilities for the station. When needed, I served as a reporter and videographer.

• Communications Intern

  Andrews McMeel Universal

  (Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Publishing industry)

  June 2005 — August 2005 (3 months)

  I published feature stories, news releases, and biographies at amuniversal.com and in national and international media. I served in a sales function by researching, writing and editing supplemental materials for new feature sales kits. I compiled and edited media clip highlight reports for distribution to AMU editors and staff and brainstormed for “out of the box” methods to publicize AMU creators and special events.

• Claim Representative

  The Hartford Insurance Group

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; HIG; Insurance industry)

  2003 — 2004 (1 year )

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

• Recreation and Travel Coordinator

  Student Union Activities

  (Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Events Services industry)

  April 2000 — June 2001 (1 year 3 months)

  Researched, developed, promoted, and executed recreation events including College Bowl® intercollegiate quiz bowl and various student recreational trips. Coordinated the proposal and budgeting processes for recreation activities. Administered all aspects of advertising campaigns. Organized and led weekly committee meetings. Served as a voting member of the SUA Board representing the Recreation Committee.

• Supervisor

  Policy Research Institute (The University of Kansas)

  (Educational Institution; 11-50 employees; Public Policy industry)

  December 1999 — June 2001 (1 year 7 months)

  My responsibilities included survey development to achieve client’s goals and direction of a staff of 20-30 primary source researchers in a survey environment. Initially hired as a researcher, I was promoted to the Supervisor position after three months. I served as the liaison between the client and the survey researchers, including management of survey refinements and insuring the prompt adaptation of survey prompts to satisfy evolving needs.
  
  Clients included the National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, Kansas Department of Transportation, the City of Lawrence, and the University of Kansas.

• Intern

  Spectrum Economics

  (Privately Held; Legal Services industry)

  May 1998 — August 1998 (4 months)

  Provided office support to the company's owner and staff. Primarily served in a document handling capacity, digitizing legal briefs and other related documents. Began the development of an Access database of case findings used in providing expert testimony in cases handled by the firm.

Patrick Lafferty’s Education

• University of Kansas

  Master of Science , Journalism and Mass Communications , 2004 — 2006

• University of Kansas School of Law

  n/a , Law , 2002 — 2002

  Attended for one semester, realizing that I was better off defending the first amendment by using it!

• University of Kansas

  Bachelor of Arts , Political Science , 2001 — 2002

• University of Kansas

  Bachelor of Science , Business Administration , 1997 — 2001

• Shawnee Mission South

Additional Information

Patrick Lafferty’s Websites:

• My Website
• My Blog

Patrick Lafferty’s Groups:

•    Kansas Alumni
•    University of Kansas School of Business Alumni

Patrick Lafferty’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch