Alex Knott
Award-Winning Videographer &
Media Specialist
Phone: 202-270-2539
Email: sendalexanote@gmail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexknott
Two-Minute Video Resume
Communications Pro with Expertise in Video, Media Relations & Digital Content
• Award-winning filmmaker, editor, script writer, and audio producer. (15 years)
• Audio, sound, and instrumental recording engineer/editor. (18 years)
• Digital and print content reporter, editor, and manager of websites. (20 years)
• Manager of communications personnel, projects, and publications. (6 years)
• Data analyst with strengths in creating and querying relational databases. (10 years)
• Spokesperson to TV, radio, print media, conferences, and colleges. (8 years)
CAREER SUMMARY
EDUCATION
New York Institute of Photography
Earned a Certificate in Video Storytelling in 2024
University of Maryland, College Park
Communications, Political Science, 1993 - 1997
(most undergraduate studies completed here before transferring)
University of Maryland, University College
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Journalism, 2004 - 2006
VIDEO PORTFOLIO
Historical Docu-Short (Independent 2020)
How the Palisades were Made
How Covid Marked the DC Palisades (Chapter 14)
Winner, Best Short Film of 2020
from the Washington Film Festival
Finalist, Best Documentary of 2020
from the Northern Virginia Film Festival
EXPERIENCE
(JAN 2017 to Present)
Project Manager for Integrated
Communications & Marketing
AARP
• Devising communications and marketing plans for healthy living, brain health and age-related discrimination while coordinating on national legislative campaigns.
• Creating, writing and executing multi-channel communications and marketing plans involving AARP Studios, social media, publications, media relations and events.
• Scripting, narrating, and editing videos to market external and internal content strategies.
• Developed a culinary video series around a healthy living and a talented local chef.
• Using SharePoint, Microsoft Project Manager and other new programs to manage projects primarily focused on health issues, Medicare and Medicaid.
• Designed materials and managing projects designed to showcase AARP’s work to a broad consumer audience online through the websites as well as in AARP Bulletin, AARP The
Magazine, Facebook, Instagram, News Now, press releases, Twitter and YouTube.
(April 2016 - Present)
Freelance Writer and Content Writer
Various Publications
• Writing chapters, narratives and timelines for a book chronicling changes in federal regulations and its effects on politics and the general public.
• Researching congressional players, federal regulators, regulatory activity for a manuscript of a forthcoming book on elections and campaign finance.
(April 2012 - April 2016)
Senior Writer/Editor
Federal Election Commission
• Managing, coordinating and editing agency publications, web pages and outreach material written by a dozen Information Division employees.
• Spearheading a video project by writing scripts, recording voice overs and editing video that showcased the agency's new website.
• Developing graphics, creating digital content, taking photographs and editing images for projects including the agency's 40th Anniversary Timeline.
• Working closely with the agency's offices, divisions and general counsel to craft a clear a consistent message throughout all Commission publications.
• Maintaining online editorial and graphics content of public online publications such as The Record as well as the agency's internal intranet publication.
2017-2018
Internship
COMPANY NAME
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you.
Videographer & Public Affairs Specialist
Federal Student Aid office of the U.S. Department of Education
(MAY 2019 - PRESENT)
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Scripted, filmed, and edited several dozens of videos internally and externally for the 1,500-employee agency since 2020.
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Personally procured and mastered cameras, lighting, microphones, rails, jibs, and other equipment to artfully capture interviews, walk and talks, and live events to create videos following carefully constructed shot lists of narratives and scripts.
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Writing, researching, and editing content for internal and external communications including videos explaining roles of FSA offices on Capitol Hill and other locations.
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Developing marketing and informational campaigns to educate and engage college-aged Americans with videos on career schools and their best options when seeking financial aid.
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Managing internal and external communications items including a video welcoming some 1,000 staffers back after Covid.
Communications Specialist
Management Sciences for Health
(DEC 2018 - MAY 2019)
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Managing internal communications for the 1,300 employees of an international nonprofit in Africa, Asia, and South America to treat diseases like Ebola, Malaria, and HIV AIDS.
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Scripting, shooting, and editing videos and other media highlighting projects (like Lea Mimba) in other countries, an annual CEO outlook, internal tutorial clips and GIFs.
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Live mixing video and audio feeds streaming internationally for quarterly conferences.
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Writing speeches, emails, blogs, social media, and digital content for a weekly online newsletter (FridayFocus) and creating HTML widgets for MSH's intranet system Ollie.
Executive Director, Filmmaker, and Digital Content Manager
AARP, Palisades History Museum, International Food Policy Research Institute & Others
(MAY 2016 - PRESENT)
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Co-founder and executive director of the local nonprofit, the Palisades History Museum, creating the website, digital content, and videos showing how this section of DC was created, discovered/chartered in 1608, and a series of how the area was affected by the Covid epidemic.
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Writing, editing, and scoring a short documentary and House History Man Blog article. The film, "The Unexpected Church House" won Best Short from at the Washington Film Festival and was a finalist for best 2020 documentary by the Northern Virginia Film Festival.
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Filming, photography, videos (Healthy Living Chef), and other digital content for AARP.
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Writing, editing, and scripting content for International Food Policy Research Institute.
Communications Coordinator
IAM National Pension Fund
(OCT 2017 - OCT 2018)
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Supervising the Communications Department employees and day-to-day operations.
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Overseeing day-to-day activities of the Communications Department, including content for newsletters, brochures, and letters as well as website redesign with creative director.
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Producing videos, scripts, and image content around communication strategies for three funds affecting hundreds of 200,000 participants in the pension, 401(k), and healthcare plans.
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Writing requests for proposal and coordinating the bidding process for a communications campaign launch of five national health care plans.
Senior Writer/Editor
Federal Election Commission
(APR 2012 - APR 2016)
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Managing, coordinating, and editing agency publications, web pages and outreach materials written by a dozen Information Division employees.
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Editing articles, graphics, and laying out the print and online editions of the agency's main newsletter, The Record.
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Spearheading a video project by writing scripts, recording voice overs, and editing videos (example: Candidate Committee Viewer) showcasing the agency's new website.
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Developing digital content, graphics, and images for agency publications, web pages and outreach materials.
CQ MoneyLine Editor · Reporter
CQ Roll Call Group
(MAY 2007 - OCT 2011)
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Supervising the Communications Department employees and day-to-day operations.
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Creating graphics and other visual materials to help subscribers and other journalists understand and better utilize the online databases on CQ MoneyLine.
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Maintaining, editing, and posting all graphics, video and editorial content in HTML for CQ MoneyLine's blog and database resources. (Website example: CQ MoneyLine Dec. 2009)
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Transforming vastly intricate databases into engaging stories and querying underlying information for illustrative graphics used in Roll Call, CQ Politics, CQ Today, and CQ Weekly magazine. (examples: campaigns | stocks | Citizens United)
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Providing newsroom support for relational databases of lobbying, campaign contributions, legislation, federal contracts and earmarks for subscribers and other journalists.
Political Editor · Project Manager · Co-Author · Reporter
Center for Public Integrity
(SEP 2002 - APR 2007)
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Managing the work of 50 researchers, writers and editors for “The Buying of the President 2004,” a 125,000-word book profiling all the candidates for the White House. In addition to supervising the book, writing two of its chapters as a senior writer.
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Crafting investigative projects and laying out data-rich projects on lobbying, the presidential election and the environment that coupled huge searchable databases with compelling investigative reports and articles on lobbying, the environment, and the race for the White House. Online examples: Buying of the President | LobbyWatch | Environment/Superfund.
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Writing, editing and managing the editorial content of several books, online projects, and reports that won six national journalism awards.
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Speaking to the media on behalf of the Center, including radio and TV appearances on ABC, NBC, and CNN and the radio. Interview examples: NPR’s “Fresh Air” | C-SPAN.
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Taking photographs, creating graphics, and video to run with online projects and proposals.
Investigative Reporter
Congress Watch at Public Citizen
(DEC 2000 - AUG 2002)
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Writing and researching several reports regarding 527 organizations, health care front groups and pending legislation.
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Coordinating press events, composing press releases and media advisories for major campaign finance studies.
Writer · Co-Author
Center for Public Integrity
(FEB 2000 - OCT 2001)
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Co-authoring a book investigating the state legislatures called “Capital Offenders.” Writing four of the chapters detailing financial interests affecting banking, the environment, sports and citizen-based legislation. The book won the 2002 IRE national book award.
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Writing a dozen investigative stories for the 50 States Project: a two-year study investigating the outside influences of campaign contributions, personal financial holdings and lobbying. on state lawmakers, which won the 2001 IRE Online award.
Reporter
The Daily Journal
(AUG 1999 - FEB 2000)
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Writing daily articles for a newspaper serving Prince William County, formerly called the Prince William Journal and part of the Journal Papers of the Washington DC Area.
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Reporting as a staff writer in general assignment but was quickly put in charge of the government beat.
Press Associate
Taxpayers for Common Sense
(MAR 1999 - AUG 1999)
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Reporting and writing investigative stories about wasteful government spending.
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Writing and editing a weekly newsletter, as well as press releases and media advisories.
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Tracking authorization bills, earmarks and other legislative spending.
Internships and College Jobs
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Editorial Intern at the American Federation of Teachers -- (DEC 1998 - MAR 1999)
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Press & Media Intern at Edelman-- (NOV 1995 - FEB 1996)
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Press Assistant for House Education and Labor Committee -- (MAY 1995 - AUG 1995)
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Investigative Reporter at the Center for Public Integrity -- (MAY 1994 - NOV 1994)
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Editorial Assistant at Association Trends Newspaper -- (MAY 1994 - AUG 1994)
WRITING SAMPLES
HONORS & AWARDS
HONORS & AWARDS
2020 Best Short Winner
Washington Film Festival
"The Unexpected Church House"
2008 Award for
Outstanding Online Journalism
Society of Environmental Journalists
Project Manager and Writer for
"Wasting Away: Superfund’s Toxic Legacy"
2007 Award for
Online Journalism
Association of Health Care Journalists
Project Manager and Writer for
"Wasting Away: Superfund’s Toxic Legacy"
2005 Online Award
Investigative Reporters and Editors
Writer, Editor for
"Outsourcing the Pentagon"
2020 Finalist Best Documentary
Northern Virginia Film & Music Festival
"The Unexpected Church House"
2007 Sigma Delta Chi Award,
Non-Deadline Reporting
Society of Professional Journalists
Project Manager and Writer
"Wasting Away: Superfund’s Toxic Legacy"
2004 New York Times Bestseller
Project Manager, Senior Writer for the book
"The Buying of the President 2004"
2000 Online Award
Investigative Reporters and Editors
Writer for
Our Legislatures Public Service, Personal Gain