DAN
PROTESS
TV & VIDEO
Executive Produced 17 hours of television, including the PBS primetime series 10 that Changed America and the weekly WTTW history series Chicago Stories. Led a team of 16 in advancing projects from concept to release. Developed a reputation as an empathetic leader, skilled script doctor, steward for ethical journalism, and DE&I champion.
Produced and Wrote more than 40 hours of television for WTTW, PBS, PBS NewHour, ABC’s Nightline, CSPAN, and WPWR. Productions include a seven part series on America’s architectural history, a town hall with Barack Obama, an award-winning exploration of Chicago’s culinary history, a series exploring nature in five American cities, an up-close look at Chicago’s gun violence, and an in-depth profile of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Produced and wrote videos for financial services and nonprofit sectors, including a virtual investor day, a virtual office visit, and a short documentary.
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IN PRINT
Write quarterly and year-end letters for an investment advisor specializing in international small-caps. Write a wide range of materials for investor relations and new business development, including brochures, pitch decks, and speeches.
Author, 10 Buildings that Changed America, Agate Midway, 2013.
Contributor to wttw.com and the City Creatures blog.
Edited stories by journalists with wttw.com, The Trace, Southside Weekly, and the Invisible Institute.
DIGITAL & INTERACTIVE
Executive Producer and Producer of three digital properties: Firsthand, Urban Nature, and FoodPhiles. Developed these concepts, named the brands, and built-out the look and logo design with designers. Served as lead producer and writer on all three projects. Forged journalism partnerships with nonprofit newsrooms. Worked with design & development, publicity, and community engagement teams to execute on our vision, drive audience tune-in, and ensure the impact of the projects.
IN PERSON
Presented at more than 35 conferences and events, including at the National Press Club, University of Chicago, University of Washington, National Building Museum, Los Angeles Public Library, American Institute of Architects, Trust for Public Land, Society of Architectural Historians, Art Institute of Chicago, WHYY Philadelphia, WQED Pittsburgh, Twin Cities PBS, Nine Network of Public Media, Preserving the Historic Road Conference, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Society of Architectural Historians, Chicago Architecture Biennial, Spertus Institute, Real Estate Club of Chicago, Public Relations Society of Chicago, & Stateville Correctional Center.
Moderated more than 20 panel discussions, including at the University of Notre Dame, University of Southern California, WGBH Boston, American Society of Landscape Architects, Indiana Landmarks, Field Museum, Chicago History Museum, Chicago Cultural Center, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Chicago Council on Science & Technology, City Colleges of Chicago, & Trinity Church in Boston.
Spokesperson on media outlets including Wired, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tonight, Axios, Current, WBEZ, KCRW Santa Monica, WGN Radio, WLS Radio, Texas Public Radio, WDET Detroit, KMOX St. Louis, South Dakota Public Radio, WVON Radio, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Arizona Republic, Daily Herald, WCIU TV, & Block Club Chicago.
Wrote speeches for investor relations and new business development for financial services firm. Prepared accompanying animated slides and pitch deck. Conducted workshop for analysts to improve stock pitches.
AWARDS
Emmy Award, for Firsthand: Life After Prison, 2023
Peter Lisagor Award, for The Birth of Gospel, 2023
Peter Lisagor Award, for The Union Stockyards, 2023
Emmy Award, for The Birth of Gospel, 2022
Emmy Award, for The Union Stockyards, 2022
Peter Lisagor Award, for Firsthand: Living in Poverty, 2022
Peter Lisagor Award, for Inventing Improv: a Chicago Stories Special, 2022
Peter Lisagor Award, for Ida B. Wells, a Chicago Stories Special, 2022
Emmy Award, for Ida B. Wells, a Chicago Stories Special, 2022
Emmy Award, for Firsthand: Coronavirus, 2020
Emmy Award, for Firsthand: Gun Violence, 2020
Peter Lisagor Award, for Firsthand: Gun Violence, 2019
Peter Lisagor Award, for The Choice for Mayor, 2019
Peter Lisagor Award, for Urban Nature, 2018
One Earth Film Festival, Official Entry, Urban Nature, 2018
Emmy Award, for Antiques Roadshow: Behind the Scenes, 2016
PBS/CPB Producers Academy fellowship, 2013
Emmy Award, for Biking the Boulevards, 2011
Emmy Award, for The Foods of Chicago, 2008
James Beard Foundation Nominee, for The Foods of Chicago, 2008
Peter Lisagor Award, for The Future of Futures, 2006
Chicago Underground Film Festival, Official Entry, Kid Dynamite, 1998
Wisconsin Union Film Festival, 3rd Place, for Who is Scanner Dan?, 1995
FILMOGRAPHY
The Birth of Gospel, a primetime documentary, Executive Producer, 2022
The Union Stockyards, a primetime documentary, Executive Producer, 2022
Downtown Disasters, a primetime documentary, Executive Producer, 2022
Firsthand: Segregation, a documentary & multiplatform initiative, Executive Producer, 2022
Firsthand: Living in Poverty, a documentary & multiplatform initiative, Executive Producer, 2021
Firsthand: Coronavirus, a documentary series, Executive Producer, 2020
Choice for Mayor 2019: Lori Lightfoot, 30-minute documentary, Producer, Writer, Editor
When Allie Met Terry, documentary short, Director, Camera, Editor, 2019
Urban Nature, a digital series, Producer and Writer, 2017
FoodPhiles, a food series, Producer, Camera, Editor, 2015
10 Buildings that Changed America, a national primetime history program, Producer and Writer, 2013
Chicago Tonight Candidate Forum, featuring mayoral candidates, Producer, 2011
Hidden Chicago 2, a history program, Producer and Writer, 2009
Chicago’s Lakefront, a feature-length history program, Producer, 2008
The Foods of Chicago, a feature-length history program, Producer and Writer, 2007
Chicago Tonight Forum, with Chicago’s Police Superintendent, Producer, 2005
Chicago Tonight Candidate Forum, featuring Barack Obama, Producer, 2004
Jail High School, a half-hour documentary, Producer and Writer, 2004
Chicago’s 1919 Race Riots, a one-hour historical documentary, Producer and Writer, 2003
Chicago’s First Mexican Church, a half-hour documentary, Producer and Writer, 2002
A Justice That Heals, a one-hour documentary, AP and Writer, 2000
UP’N Running, a weekly educational children’s program, Associate Producer, 1997-1999
Who Is Scanner Dan?, a documentary short, Producer, 1996
Our Soldiers, Our Lady of Guadalupe, a primetime documentary, Executive Producer, 2022
The Real Mad Men of Chicago, a primetime documentary, Executive Producer, 2022
Jane Byrne, a primetime documentary, Executive Producer, 2022
Ida B. Wells, a primetime documentary, Executive Producer, 2021
The Great Chicago Fire, a primetime documentary, Executive Producer, 2020
Firsthand: Gun Violence, a documentary & multiplatform initiative, Producer and Director, 2019
Urban Nature, Season II, a digital series, Producer, Writer, 2019
10 that Changed America, Season II, a national primetime history series, Executive Producer, Producer, and Writer, 2018
10 that Changed America, a national primetime history series, Series Producer, 2016
Chicago Time Machine, a feature-length history program, Producer, 2013
Chicago’s Loop: A New Walking Tour, a feature-length history program, Producer, 2012
Biking the Boulevards, a feature-length history program, Producer and Writer, 2010
Chicago Tonight Forum, exploring health care reform, Producer, 2009
Hidden Chicago, a history program, Producer and Writer, 2008
The Fox River Valley, a feature-length history program, Producer, 2006
Chicago Stories: John Wayne Gacy, a half-hour documentary, Producer and Writer, 2005
Chicago Tonight Candidate Forum, featuring candidates for U.S. Senate, Producer, 2004
Jewish Chicago, a feature-length historical documentary, Producer and Writer, 2003
Lost Chicago, a one-hour history program, Producer and Writer, 2002
Chicago Stories, a weekly documentary series, Associate Producer, 2000-2003
Chicago’s Lakefront, a feature-length history program, Associate Producer, 1999
Kid Dynamite, a documentary short, Producer, 1998
EMPLOYMENT
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Executive Producer, Window to the World, Inc., Chicago, IL, 1999-2022
Lecturer, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2002-2003
Associate Producer, WPWR-TV, Chicago, IL, 1997-1999
Technician, Wisconsin Public Television, Madison, WI, 1995-1996
EDUCATION
BA, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Major in Communication Arts with a concentration in Radio-Television-Film
Major in English with a concentration in Creative Writing