The Community Exchange Podcast by OpenWeb Publishing in 2030 with Dotdash Meredith’s Dr. Jonathan Roberts
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Feb 12, 2025 Dr. Jonathan Roberts, Chief Innovation Officer at Dotdash Meredith, shares his fascinating journey from physicist to publishing innovator, even serving as the official cartographer for Game of Thrones. He discusses transforming legacy brands like About.com for the digital era and emphasizes the importance of community engagement in publishing's future. Jonathan reveals how audience data is reshaping content strategies and the evolving role of AI in personalizing experiences. He also dives into revenue strategies in a privacy-conscious ecosystem, targeting younger, digital-native audiences.
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Game of Thrones Cartographer
- Jonathan Roberts is the official cartographer for Game of Thrones, creating the canon maps for the books and show.
- Random House contacted him after finding his other fantasy maps online.
From Physics to Media
- Roberts transitioned from theoretical physics to the media industry after working as a research scientist.
- He got his green card after being paid to create the maps for Game of Thrones.
Entering the Tech Industry
- Roberts transitioned into the tech industry by attending hackathons, including NASA's.
- This led to a freelance position at About.com after winning the New York NASA hackathon.