ESU alum named PRESSTIME Magazine’s ’20 under 40’

Rob Curley

Rob Curley, one of the most critically acclaimed and award-winning web developers in the world and Emporia State University alum was named one of PRESSTIME Magazine’s “20 under 40.”

Curley, hailed as one of the best and brightest young professionals in the newspaper business, is profiled in the 14th edition of PRESSTIME magazine’s “20 Under 40” feature, designed to recognize those who have proven themselves as “change agents within their companies and the industry, providing much needed leadership and vision,” according to the editors.

The 20 were selected from nominations made by executives at NAA-member newspapers across the country. "Each year it gets more difficult to narrow the focus to just 20 of the industry's bright young innovators," said Rebecca Ross Albers, NAA vice president and editor of PRESSTIME. "Those honored this year will be at the forefront of this changing

industry for many years to come."

Curley, a self-described “Internet nerd from Kansas,” is Vice President of Product Development at WashingtonPost.Newsweek in Washington, D.C. He earned a Bachelor’s of Integrated Studies degree from ESU in 2001. In October, Curley returned to Kansas and gave an innovative and enlighting presentation on the evolution of media and communications to Kansas City area media and the ESU and Emporia community.

“Rob is multitalented, ingenious, and inspiring. ESU is extremely proud of his accomplishments," said Dr. Gary Bleeker, Curley’s former professor and academic advisor.

Curley’s work in media and online development has not gone unnoticed. In 2001, the Newspaper Association of America named Curley its New Media Pioneer of the Year, making him the youngest person to ever win the award. His online development teams at the Lawrence Journal-World, the Topeka Capital-Journal and the Naples (Florida) Daily News garnered numerous national and international online journalism awards from Editor & Publisher magazine, Mediaweek Magazine and the Newspaper Association of America.

While a student at ESU, Curley was a freelance writer for various newspapers across Kansas, but also wrote for the ESU student newspaper, The Bulletin. In 1994, while writing for The Bulletin, Curley was named the Kansas Collegiate Sports Writer of the Year by the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press. More information on Rob Curley can be found at his website at www.robcurley.com.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>