Martin Schmidt-Bleek

Overall leadership of continental European bureau, including news editing, news gathering, planning, breaking news and live coverage management, strategic staffing, product development, client communication. Managed over 100 direct or indirect reports and was fully accountable for the regional budget. Managed major event coverage and coordinated cross-border breaking news.

• Oversaw agency video in eastern Europe and maintained direct responsibility for German production • Assumed responsibility for production of Reuters video service covering Central and Eastern Europe (CEEF) • Managed Berlin as a production hub, roughly 40-50 stories published per day • Managed launch of Reuters Russian Video service

• Managed team in four bureaux, oversaw all editorial and logistical issues • Led bureau move from Bonn to Berlin • Continued to establish and expand Reuters German News Service (GNS), Reuters only domestic agency video service (recently celebrated 20th anniversary) • Created German News Video Online (GNVO), Reuters’ first non-English packaged online video service, now in its 15th year.

• Managed Berlin bureau / remit including former East Germany • Responsible for coverage of eastern Germany from the onset of German News Service • Field produced / edited video / scripted

• Field and desk produced / edited video / coordinated live transmissions

• Worked as field producer / sound technician / fixer after fall of the Berlin wall • International assignments, i.e. Desert Storm Feb-Apr 1991 in Saudi Arabia / Iraq / Kuwait