Scholar-Practitioner in Media Trust, AI Verification & Visual Media Anthropology
Robb Montgomery is an international media trainer, visual anthropologist, author, and award-winning documentary filmmaker based in Berlin. A former Chicago Sun-Times visual editor and author of The Trust Graph (2026) and two Routledge university textbooks, he bridges high-level academic research with frontline field training across 30+ countries. His work helps universities, newsrooms, and media foundations navigate generative AI disruption, establish evidence-based reporting workflows, and rebuild public credibility.
Available for visiting scholar residencies, feature screenings, executive masterclasses, and international capacity-building programs.
Academic Credentials & Institutional Appointments
- PhD by Publication (Proposal under review / In Progress)
- M.A. in Visual Media Anthropology (Honors) — Media University of Applied Sciences, Berlin (2026)
- Visiting Professor & Lead Curriculum Author — Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Singapore (2024–Present; Module MKT560: Smartphone Filmmaking)
- Founder & Lead Researcher — The Trust Graph Lab (Est. 2026)
- Founder & Board Chair — Mobile Journalism Awards Competition (Est. 2019; partnered with NAB Show, BEA, and International Journalism Festival Perugia)
- Founder & Director — Visual Editors, NFP (501(c)(3) public charity supporting visual journalism education since 2004)
- U.S. Speaker Specialist — U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (Five-time appointee)
Flagship Research & Cinematic Outputs
Montgomery’s applied research connects four distinct projects into a unified inquiry into evidence, mobility, spatial representation, and newsroom trust:
- The Trust Graph (2026): A 224-page hardcover monograph and 6-tier evidence repository examining journalism as a social, visual, and cultural practice of trust in an era of algorithmic displacement and synthetic media. (Hardcover ISBN:
978-0-9903502-4-8| LCCN:2026906983) - Trustable (2026): An 88-minute feature documentary film (and 44-minute academic cut) filmed across 12 countries over 19 years, capturing global newsroom transformation, creator migration, and the defense of non-fiction story integrity. (Official Site: trustable.film)
- Stimulated Reality (2025): A peer-reviewed journal article and 8-minute VR machinima documentary examining virtual intimacy, avatar communities, and spatial ethnography in the metaverse. (Published in Journal of Visual and Media Anthropology, Vol. 9; ISSN:
2366-4975) - Bikegeist (2025): An interactive spatial digital heritage exhibit utilizing 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) photogrammetry and documentary film to preserve urban cycling culture.
- The Montgomery Longitudinal Visual Archive (MLVA): An 8-terabyte primary digital humanities repository containing 500 hours of footage and 39 coded video interviews with 34 global media leaders across 12 countries.
Turnkey Masterclasses & Capacity-Building Services
Montgomery delivers turnkey workshops, executive seminars, and field labs for academic institutions and media development funds:
- AI Verification & Media Trust: Equipping journalists and student creators with on-screen “reporting receipts” (Verified Translucency), AI audio/video authentication, and transparent source ledgers.
- Mobile Journalism & Field Production: Hands-on smartphone video assembly, directional audio recording, and rapid newsroom workflows.
- Spatial Media & Virtual Ethnography: 3D photogrammetry field scanning, VR storytelling, and digital heritage preservation.
Global Media Development & Conflict Zone Training
Over three decades, Montgomery has trained more than 20,000 journalists across 40+ countries. His field programs emphasize discreet reporting, safety, and rapid skill acquisition in high-risk zones:
- Ukraine Resilience Project (2023): Trained displaced frontline journalists in Odessa to produce broadcast-quality documentary shorts using mobile gear during active conflict.
- United Nations Public Information Diplomas: Designed and led a 6-week mobile video diploma program for UN Officers across 59 countries.
- International NGO Partnerships: Directed capacity-building initiatives for IREX (Egypt & Georgia), Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, WAN-IFRA (Women in News Asia), and Fondation Hirondelle.
Work With Robb Montgomery
Montgomery is currently scheduling Spring 2027 Visiting Scholar Residencies, Feature Screenings, and Executive Workshops across North America and Europe.
Direct Email: ceo@visualeditors.com
Schedule a 15-Minute Consultation: calendly.com/robbmonty/15min