Christopher Blair
NASA Media Specialist
media
Media Specialist
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
Since July 2014
Full-time
Huntsville
United States - Alabama
- Supporting the International Space Station and its Program Science Office, I support events and develop media products for distribution to a diverse, global audience, as well as for internal and external stakeholders, news outlets and the public.
Currently, I develop internal and external communication products for a diverse, global audience of government offices, stakeholders, academia, news outlets and the public. My work highlights NASA's International Space Station, the Space Launch System, and all activities related to the Marshall Space Flight Center; NASA's New Frontiers and Discovery Programs; and more.
To improve awareness of Marshall and agency priorities, I help schedule and support high-profile activities and events, including congressional and stakeholder visits, media interviews and press conferences. I also provide content for employee communication platforms in the Marshall Star newsletter, as well as serve in a back-up role for center-wide emails and emergency notifications.
TRADITIONAL MEDIA: I translate technical and complex scientific information into appropriate, audience-specific products. This includes drafting and distributing news releases, media advisories, web features, digital presentations, informational material and more. I support media interviews and press conferences with subject matter experts and have helped develop signage and talking points for public tours of government facilities.
VIDEO/PHOTOGRAPHY: I produce videos and host live broadcasts. This includes drafting storyboards, shot sheets and talking-points, coordinating interviews, recording footage and editing videos with non-linear software programs. I also provide updates and arrange distribution for broadcast on NASA TV. I photograph high-profile events, selecting quality images and writing cutlines for media products.
SOCIAL MEDIA: As part of our award-winning social media team, I use multiple software programs to manage government accounts on various platforms. Maintaining a global audience in the millions, I create innovative campaign strategies with compelling, tailored-made content. I use asset management software to schedule and track output while preparing metric reports to analyze and apply the best practices of leading industry standards. In addition to original digital content creation, I coordinate online and in-person social events to increase fan engagement.
METRICS: I provide the government and its contractors with in-depth, analytical reports detailing overall product development and distribution, as well as tracking the effectiveness of communication tactics. I research and recommend strategies to improve the effectiveness of communication products, outreach events, social media content and layout of our tracking systems, all to ensure alignment with agency goals and improve internal and external communications. I use sophisticated software programs to populate a database by monitoring, tracking and reporting global media coverage and office quantity output.
WEB EDITOR: As a trained government web editor, I post content to agency sites using various content management systems, including Drupal. I have also reviewed and provided updates and suggestions on existing page layouts, imagery and content. In the past, I have helped design new websites at the Johnson and Kennedy Space Center.
STAKEHOLDERS: I am a skilled liaison, having fostered and sustained positive working relationships with representatives of government offices, public organizations, industry partners, news media and educational institutions. I've built an extensive list of colleagues and contacts to maintain a favorable public perception of our agency's accomplishments and projects.
EDUCATION/OUTREACH: I develop short and long-term plans that promote and support education and outreach events for Marshall's Academic Affairs Office. I create communication plans and coordinate traditional and social media coverage by developing promotional materials, media products, talking points and appropriate messaging.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: I have completed years of certification in government IT security, records training and management, web publishing, desktop publishing and graphics software systems.
AWARDS
• NASA Marshall Employee of the Month
• NASA Group Achievement Award: Social Media
• NASA Group Achievement Award: Education Outreach
• NASA Group Achievement Award: International Space Station Communications
• NASA Certificate of Appreciation: New Horizons Mission to Pluto
Please feel free to view samples at www.christophereblair.com.
My references will gladly confirm my abilities and I look forward to discussing them at your earliest convenience.
