Robb Montgomery

Robb Montgomery is an American journalist, author, and educator known for his contributions to the field of mobile journalism (mojo) and digital storytelling.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Robb Montgomery
Montgomery in 2015
Born	1964 (age 60–61) Naperville, Illinois
Alma mater	Eastern Illinois University
Occupations	Professor author journalist
Known for	Mobile journalism

Publications

Mobile Journalism^[6] (2020-2025, Visual Editors, Chicago)

Smartphone Video Storytelling^[7] (2018, Taylor & Francis, New York & London)

Video mit dem Smartphone^[8](2019, dPunkt Verlag - German language edition)

Filmography

Sophie Sutton^[9] (2018, Best Foreign Short Documentary at L.A. Live Film Festival^[10] & Best Travel Video at the Global Mobile Film Awards™^[11])

Ice Swimming^[12] (2018, Best Documentary, Sunlight Film Festival, Berlin) (Video of prize awarded to Montgomery at the Berlin film festival)^[13]

Discography

Lullabies and Little Ditties^[14] (2002, Published by Kidvibe.com (ASCAP), Distributed by Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, LastFM)

Early life

Montgomery was born in Naperville, Illinois in 1964 and currently resides in Berlin, Germany. He is married to a German journalist, Jördis Montgomery, who in 2007^[15] pioneered the frontier of mobile journalism as a woman reporter for Die Welt.^[16]

He began his career as a graphics journalist at the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel in 1990 after graduating from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in journalism. He held a number of editorial management positions at newspapers in Florida and Illinois between 1990 and 2005. He has two daughters from a previous marriage.

Career

As a documentary filmmaker and journalism educator Montgomery is recognized as an early adopter of using smartphones and other mobile devices for news gathering, content creation, and distribution.^{[17][18][19][20][21][22]} His work has focused on training journalists globally in mobile reporting techniques and adapting newsrooms to a mobile-first approach.^[23][24][25] Montgomery's career has centered on the evolving landscape of digital media and its impact on journalism.^[26][27] He has advocated for the integration of mobile technology into journalistic practices, emphasizing accessibility and the ability to tell stories with small cameras.^[28][29] He argues that mobile devices essentially provide "a TV studio in your pocket," enabling broader participation in news production.^[30]

Montgomery has been involved in numerous training initiatives and workshops worldwide, teaching journalists and media professionals about mobile journalism strategies, including video formats and tips and tricks for mobile reporting.^{[31][32][33][34][35]} These efforts have extended to various regions, including Ukraine, where he has conducted training for journalists in displaced communities.^[36][37]

His work also extends to the conceptual framework of mobile journalism, advocating for a "mojo mindset" in news organizations and promoting a digital-first curriculum in journalism education.^{[38][39][40][41][42]} He has also been a featured speaker at international journalism festivals and conferences, addressing topics such as visual-first journalism and designing mobile-first newsrooms.^{[43][44][45][46][47][48]}

Research and Recognition

Montgomery's influence on the field of mobile journalism is widely cited in academic literature. Several research papers highlight his role in democratizing news production and shaping the practices of modern newsrooms:

• A 2024 review by Dr. Bhasake Ambadas in the International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research credits Montgomery’s workshops and educational materials as instrumental in spreading mobile journalism practices globally.^[49]
• In Comunicación y Sociedad (2024), Dr. Claudia Benassini and colleagues discuss how Montgomery’s training programs have influenced newsroom workflows and journalism education, particularly in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.^[50]
• A University of Bergen report (2022) notes that Montgomery’s books and training modules have set industry standards for mobile reporting, with a focus on storytelling techniques and ethical considerations.^[51]
• Stephen Quinn and Oscar Westlund, in Digital Journalism (2020), cite Montgomery’s pioneering work in developing mobile journalism curricula and global training initiatives, emphasizing his role in redefining journalistic roles and newsroom culture.^[52]

The University of Bergen's research team highlighted his contributions in their work on mobile journalism practices, challenges, and opportunities.^[53][54]

Montgomery has also been recognized by various institutions, including the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, for his expertise in mobile journalism.^[55] His methodologies and insights are also incorporated into academic courses, such as "Mobile and Social Media Marketing" at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.^[56]

In 2023 he led mobile journalism training workshops^[57] for journalists in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion by Russia.

He is a visiting professor at international universities where he leads Mobile Reporting and Story Lab workshops to promote entrepreneurial and video storytelling.^[58]

Montgomery set up the Smart Film School, an online academy that produced diploma courses and certified training in mobile journalism and documentary filmmaking.^[59]

Founder of Visual Editors, NFP

Working as the group's CEO, Montgomery incorporated the Visual Editors social network in 2004 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, positioning the site as an educational exchange for student and professional journalists working in the world's newsrooms. The charity is operated by a volunteer board of directors.^[60]

Visual Editors organizes the Mobile Journalism Awards and screens the best documentary mobile journalism films at the.^[61] NABshow in Las Vegas and the International Journalism Festival in Perugia.^[62]