Armand Emamdjomeh Visual Journalist

Experience

• The Washington Post, Washington, DC

  Assignment Editor, Graphics, February 2020 – present

  • Led a team of reporters in standing up a suite of coronavirus data trackers and worked with Newsroom Engineering to set up an automated data pipeline,
  • Helped brainstorm and edit a piece illustrating how viruses spread that became the most read piece in Post history,
  • Led the production of interactive graphics for a pair of stories on the pandemic’s unequal economic impact and how the $4 trillion bailout was spent,
  • Pushed for as much automation in daily print graphics needs as possible, including a daily coronavirus chart,
  • Coordination and assignment of daily graphics needs with the foreign, national security and business desks,
  • Advocate for diversity in hiring, automation and process in department leadership

  Graphics Reporter, March 2017 – February 2020

  • Was part of a team that created a national database of opioids distribution and map of pharmacies that received the pills, as well as a documents database revealing what officials knew about the war in Afghanistan,
  • Designed and developed feature projects on the 1968 D.C. riots and MLB launch angles,
  • Responsible for completely refactoring election results mapping platform for the 2018 midterms,
  • Contributing to publishing infrastructure,
  • Daily charts and maps as needed

• Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA

  Deputy Director, Data Visualization, February 2016 - February 2017

  • Leading a department of 12 developers and graphic artists, to emphasize online and multimedia presentation,
  • Supervising both daily assignments and long-term projects focusing on the innovative and offbeat, including the presidential debates and every Kobe Bryant shot ever,
  • Mentoring and developing web and coding skills for both junior and senior graphic artists,
  • Continuing a departmental push for innovative data visualizations, especially 3D and virtual reality experiences,
  • Revamping online publication process for data visualizations to enable publishing of vector graphics in our CMS.

  Digital Editor, Data Desk, October 2010 – February 2016

  • Created the L.A. Times's first virtual-reality experience, “Discovering Gale Crater,” and one of the first VR experiences among large media outlets,
  • Conducted data-based analyses and visualizations of pedestrian-involved crashes, bike-involved hit-and-runs, homicide victims and professional athletes filing for workers' compensation in California,
  • Built data visualizations with JavaScript libraries such as D3, Raphael and Three.js, on topics including MLB salaries, U.S. border security, and satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit.
  • Shot and edited video for the Business, Metro and Entertainment sections.

Education

• University of California at Berkeley

  M.J., Journalism, Concentration in Photojournalism and New Media, May 2010, 4.0 Cumulative GPA

• University of Southern California

  B.A., International Relations and Russian Language, May 2004, 3.7 Cumulative GPA

Awards

• 2019 Malofiej Gold - Innovation Format
  Borderline America is more diverse than ever, but still segregated
• 2019 Malofiej Silver - Features
  Borderline The four days in 1968 that reshaped D.C. America is more diverse than ever, but still segregated
• 2019 National Press Foundation, Innovative Storytelling
  The four days in 1968 that reshaped D.C.
• 2015 SPJ Sigma Delta Chi Award, Informational Graphics (Newspaper Circulation 100,001+)
  "Discovering Gale Crater"
• 2014 Associated Press Sports Editors, 2nd Place, Investigative
  “Brain injuries a big problem for NFL in California”
• 2013 Online News Association award, Explanatory Reporting, Large
  “Beyond 7 Billion”
• 2012 Pictures of the Year International, Documentary project winner
  “Dying for Relief”
• 2012 L.A. Times Editorial Award, Graphics
  Election 2012
• 2011 Pictures of the Year International, Documentary project finalist
  “Living with Autism”
• 2011 L.A. Times Editorial Award, Multimedia/Video
  ”Living with Autism”
• 2010 Deans Award for Public Service Journalism, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
• 2009 SPJ Region 11 Mark of Excellence award, 2nd place in feature photography
  “Mission Nights”
• 2009 Webby Award, Best site that connects people and creates community
  Mission Local

Additional work experience

• News21, Berkeley, Calif.

  Photographer/Web Producer, June 2010 – August 2010

  • Contributed photography and video as part of a 10-week fellowship investigating the incarceration system in California for regional and statewide media outlets.

• The New York Times Company, San Francisco, Calif.

  Bay Area Blog Intern, October 2009 – April 2010

  • Contributed daily reporting and photography to Bay Area coverage by The New York Times.

• Mission Local, San Francisco, Calif.

  Multimedia Reporter and Editor, September 2008 – May 2010

  • Produced documentary street photography multimedia project on the Mission District, "New Mission,"
  • Helped design, launch and provide multimedia content in daily reporting and editorial oversight of a Webby Award-winning website. Reported and edited city politics, health, services and food beats, as well as breaking news.

• CARANA Corporation, Arlington, Va.

  Project Specialist - Africa and Asia, June 2007 – July 2008

  • Researched and reported on key trade and investment sectors, relevant policy issues and client background information as required for projects and proposal development; contributed written, graphic and photographic inputs for business development.

• Relief International – Schools Online, Ramallah, Palestinian Territories and Los Angeles, Calif.

  Program Coordinator, Global Connections and Exchange Program, March 2006 - August 2006

  • Raised more than $4.3 million from private and public donors on the proposal development team,
  • Led emergency response teams to deliver relief goods to affected populations after Hurricane Katrina.