Rob D’Amico

I am a communications professional, writer and former journalist who still pens an occasional article for publications across Texas.

Current Work: Communications Director for Texas AFT, a teachers union representing 65,000 school employees in Texas.

Contact: Damicoaustin@gmail.com, 512-627-1343

Résumé

Ongoing Professional Writing

#TxEd in the Media
A daily look at the noteworthy headlines in Texas education news, practice, policy and politics, with analyses of media coverage.

Texas AFT Legislative Hotline
A daily e-mail publication to some 50,000 Texas AFT members, educators, journalists and politicians covering legislative and education news. (Also responsible for twice-monthly newsletter–The Round-Up–that goes to 93,000 list members.

News Releases and Media Relations
A sample of news release written for Texas AFT. I am responsible for all media relations for the organization as well.

Social Media and Digital Work

I handle all social media (Facebook, Twitter and some Instagram) for Texas AFT, including posting, monitoring, promotions, and advertising. I am verified/authorized by Facebook for political advertising. I also maintain and develop content for the Web site and digital campaigns.

Engagement and Political Action

I coordinate communications for political and legislative work, including engagement of members of the public on education issues. (Example)

The Kitchen Sink

I also do graphic design, publications, and all manner of digital wizardry, as well as all the boring technical stuff that goes on behind the scenes (e.g. domain management, e-mail hosting work, troubleshooting, database work, etc.)

Published Newspaper and Magazine Writing

Recent…

• This is why my wife and I split up the kids and take separate family vacations (Matador Network)
• 12 Great Austin Trails: Parks and trails to run, hike and bike in Austin, whether you’re a beginner or a pro (Austin Monthly)
• Rough Rider: Tristan Uhl (Austin Monthly)
• Wheel Talk: Interested in trying your hand (and feet) at trail biking? Here’s advice on how to buy your first ride. (Austin Monthly)

Austin Monthly

• Lost & Found: UT grad discovers a city and creates the Maya Exploration center (PDF)
• The Pedal Pusher: Lance’s Latest Gig, The Ultimate Cycling Guide, and If You Build It…Activist helps grow cycling community one bike at a time (PDF)
• Let It Ride: How the city is making bicycling easier and safer (PDF)
• Not your dad’s Schwinn (PDF)

Austin Chronicle Archive

Chronicle Articles

• Opportunity Knocks – Not Once, but Twice: A boy’s chance meetings with the stars of ‘Boyhood’
• Bike Thief Draws Four-Year Sentence: Clayton cops a plea deal
• The Bicycle Thief: Police say James Clayton befriended – then ripped off – many Austin bicyclists
• The Bike Stuff: The traveling 2008 Bicycle Film Festival rolls into Austin
• Living Maya: Austin becomes a hotbed of past and future Maya knowledge
• About the Maya
• Filming the Code-Breakers
• Goodbye to Big Pink: The Rio Motel faces new ownership, a new name, and perhaps a new future.
• Life After a Night at the Rio: The Rio Motel is gone, but the memories linger.
• South Austin Secede!: Our second installment in a series about South Austin explores the roots of “Bubba” and the rivalry between North Austin and south of the river.
• Ian Clarke: Making Information (And People?) Free: Intellectual Property, Résumé Building, Wearable Computers, and Other Tales From the …
• Design Track: Get Back to Basics, Back to the Topic
• It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas: South Austin’s Neon Transformers Light Up Life South of the River
• When It Comes to Bike Theft, Austin Is Tops: Stop, Thief! (PDF)

The Medallion (Texas Historical Commission Magazine)

• Los Caminos Del Rio (PDF)
• Relive the Past in Goliad (PDF)
• Fort St Louis: Canadians Lend Their Expertise of French Artifacts (PDF)

Austin American-Statesman

• Seeing bats, camping in jungles of Guatemala

The Good Life

Body Art: Tattoos, piercings and scarification in Austin
Repeat After Me: Herman the German

UTMOST

• Mexico by Train