This multidisciplinary journalist bridges tech innovation and human creativity through:
"Send me the tools that make you nervous - that's where the real story lives"
Recent recognition includes the 2024 Innovation in Journalism Award from Digital Media World for his hybrid photo-essay format.
We've followed Matt Blum's evolution from street photographer to multimedia storyteller with keen interest. His 15-year journey began documenting urban subcultures before pivoting to tech journalism in 2018 through GeekDad's platform. This unique blend of visual storytelling and gadget analysis creates what Wired magazine called "a new paradigm in geek culture reporting."
Blum's deep dive into Britannica's STEM-focused children's books showcases his ability to make educational content compelling for adult readers. Through hands-on testing with school groups, he demonstrates how augmented reality features enhance spatial reasoning skills. The article's impact led to 42% increased teacher requests for reviewed titles according to publisher tracking data.
This photo essay series redefined convention coverage by pairing cosplay portraits with interview snippets about fabrication techniques. Blum's decision to shoot exclusively with vintage film cameras forced subjects to slow down, resulting in more contemplative interactions that reveal the emotional labor behind fan creations.
Blum's raw memoir chronicles 20 years of photographic misadventures, from backstage music festivals to Silicon Valley boardrooms. The Wall Street Journal praised its "unflinching examination of creative compromise," particularly the chapter detailing ethical dilemmas in celebrity portraiture.
Successful pitches connect tech innovation to human behavior patterns. Blum's VR classroom piece for Wired Education demonstrates this approach, analyzing both eye-tracking data and teacher testimonials. PR professionals should highlight unexpected user groups when introducing new gadgets.
Blum's best work emerges from structured unpredictability. His viral "Maker Faire Breakdown" series used real-time troubleshooting documentation. Pitches should allow room for emergent narratives rather than pre-packaged stories.
With 73% of his articles featuring hands-on testing metrics, Blum favors products that enable physical interaction. The much-cited "Haptic Coding Kits for Teens" piece exemplifies this preference through detailed pressure sensor analysis.
"Blum's lens captures the soul of geekdom" - Pop Photo Magazine
The International Geek Culture Awards named Blum their 2023 Visual Storyteller of the Year for his hybrid photo-essay format. This recognition highlights his innovative merging of technical analysis with human-interest narratives across 14 winning entries.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Tech, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
