Rob Curley - 2007 Entrepreneurial Distinguished Lecturer

Rob Curley, a critically acclaimed and award winning Web developer, is a graduate from Emporia State University. Rob visited ESU and delivered several interesting presentations about new media communications, business and technology. Rob speaks around the world, and frequently introduces himself as "an Internet nerd from Kansas who is in love with local news and the evolution of traditional media." He has worked on several interactive media sites including the Lawrence-Journal World and Naples News. In 2006 he became the Vice President of Product Development at Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive.

Rob Curley explains an interactive media piece
detailing the new seating arrangements at KU basketball games.

Dr. Jim Stephens of the ESU School of Business organized Rob's visit and introduced him by telling the attendees "His ideas go beyond newspapers to all virtual communication, to the future of electronic communication, and raises issues about how communities share information."

Topics covered during the day included:

• Creating interactive newspaper sites and advertising models that make them profitable


• Information technology issues related to interactive newspapers and the skill set and mental attitude needed to operate in this changing communication process


• Social and communication issues related to interactive communication and the impact on new forms of electronic communication have on people and society

Rob also blogged about his visit to ESU at on his website at www.robcurley.com, and Marcus Childress also posted an entry about Rob's visit on the ESU IDT Blog. Rob also talked about several recent projects, including OnBeing at the Washington Post, and the passion and technology that drives these sites such as django, podcasting, video and interactive features.