Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Brian Conley

Journalist And Editor
Portland

Summary

I’m a collaborative, equity-driven leader who has set up media agencies on three continents, as well as supported innovative approaches to journalism and journalist safety in dozens of countries. I’ve spent my life supporting at-risk communities to tell their own stories and I believe an informed citizenry is crucial to democracy and civic engagement.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
5
5
Languages

Work History

Co-Founder

Alive-in/
08.2021 - Current
  • Oversaw all elements of operation including strategic planning, proposal/report writing, budgeting, hiring/coordinating in-country staff, security planning, and editorial development.
  • Developed the editorial and marketing strategies to build an audience of one million monthly unique viewers
  • Oversaw publishing of weekly English stories and twice weekly local language reports for a total of more than 280 articles
  • Hired and trained journalists with a focus on equity and building a majority women newsroom
  • Edited English 195 language stories from all across Afghanistan
  • Produced original reporting and research on an as-needed basis, including leading the production of an award-winning investigation in collaboration with ProPublica


Co-Founder/Strategic Lead

Fasila, Inc
04.2020 - Current
  • Oversaw all elements of operation including strategic planning, proposal/report writing, budgeting, hiring/coordinating in-country staff, security planning, and editorial development.
  • Consulted on communications training and productions for Ethiopian, Syrian, Yemeni, and Libyan CSOs and media outlets.
  • Wrote training guides and guidebooks covering training techniques, multimedia journalism, video production, mobile reporting, and physical and digital security.
  • Scripted video and animation training materials for voter advocacy projects, communications skills, safety, and media reporting projects.
  • Served as Fasila's lead trainer on native English projects.
  • Provided Remote Advisory Services to clients as needed.
  • Prepared and conducted in-person storytelling, journalism, security, storytelling, investigative journalism, video and photo production, and editorial workshops.


Training Consultant

Freelance
07.2008 - Current
  • Civil Rights Defenders – Designed and oversaw series of workshops in the Western Balkans focused on video advocacy and safety.
  • Video4Change – Wrote “Effective Video on Low Cost Devices” for the Video 4 Change Network
  • TechChange –Speaker TC104 Digital Organizing andTC105 Mobiles for International Development
  • Tibet Action Institute – Trained 40 Indian and Tibetan activists in video journalism and video advocacy to improve coverage of the Tibetan freedom struggle inside and outside China
  • NDI Gulf – Designed and oversaw mapping and election monitoring program in collaboration with Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and Bahrain Transparency Society
  • Video Volunteers – Designed the IndiaUnheard program, developed training material and coordinated training for 40 Indian community activists as “community journalists,” created social media strategy for connecting rural community activists to the world
  • Witness Human Rights Hub - Designed a strategic overview of social media tools available to human rights activists, and models to utilize video and new media to end human rights abuses

Director

Small World News, Inc
11.2006 - 12.2020
  • Oversaw all elements of operations including strategic planning, proposal/report writing, budgeting, hiring/coordinating in-country staff, security planning, and editorial development.
  • Consulted on communications training and productions for Libyan local government, civil society organizations, and media outlets
  • Produced Election PSAs and other advocacy content for Libyan Municipal Governments, the High National Election Commission of Libya, and other documentary and advocacy productions
  • Launched Mobile Community Zimbabwe a network of 48 mobile journalists around Zimbabwe
  • Launched “AliveinLibya” the first independent Libyan online video newsagency.
  • Developed Pajhwok Afghan News’ multimedia and video strategies,launched their video news service Designed and oversaw mobile election monitoring and mapping projects with Democracy International and the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan
  • Advised targeted Ethiopian journalists in online and mobile security practices and oversaw the redesign of their website
  • Ran security workshops focused on digital, mobile, and operational security for hundreds of activists and journalists from countries such as Sudan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Bangladesh, Burundi, and Zimbabwe.
  • Trained more than 600 journalists and activists, and in particular trainers from Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Jordan, Syria, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia, Ukraine, Russia, and Mexico.
  • Designed and wrote curriculum on digital, mobile, satphones, and operational security.
  • Designed and wrote manuals on journalism and ethics, reportng with social media, photo, audio, video reporting, and multimedia reporting on mobile.

Director

Alive In Baghdad
09.2005 - 03.2009
  • Traveled to Iraq in 2005, creating the award-winning program, “Alive in Baghdad” featuring weekly production of short documentaries created by local journalists.
  • Hired and trained Iraqi correspondents in video production.
  • Produced 180 documentaries, topics included child soldiers, sectarian conflict, and irregular combatants.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Creative Writing & Film

Bard College At Simon's Rock
Great Barrington, MA
08.1996 - 06.2000

Master of Science - Philanthropy & Media

Suffolk University
Boston, MA
08.2002 - 06.2004

Skills

    Strategic Planning

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Accomplishments

  • Named one of “50 Visionaries Changing our World” by Utne Reader 2009
  • Streamy Award for Best News / Politics Web series of 2008 2009
  • Deutsche Welle Best of the Blogs Award for Best Videoblog 2007
  • Nominated for Webby in 2007 in News/Documentary/Public Service 2007
  • Six Vloggies including Favorite Vlog, Political Vlog, and Interview Vlog 2006

Timeline

Co-Founder

Alive-in/
08.2021 - Current

Co-Founder/Strategic Lead

Fasila, Inc
04.2020 - Current

Training Consultant

Freelance
07.2008 - Current

Director

Small World News, Inc
11.2006 - 12.2020

Director

Alive In Baghdad
09.2005 - 03.2009

Master of Science - Philanthropy & Media

Suffolk University
08.2002 - 06.2004

Bachelor of Arts - Creative Writing & Film

Bard College At Simon's Rock
08.1996 - 06.2000

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Brian ConleyJournalist And Editor