Robert K. Elder is a tech and media executive, and the author or editor of 20+ books, including "Last Words of the Executed" and "Hidden Hemingway."
Pulitzer-winner Studs Terkel calls Elder "a journalist in the noblest tradition" in his introduction to Elder's book, "Last Words of the Executed."
"Dead Man Walking" author Sister Helen Prejean called it, "a dangerous book." "Last Words of the Executed" received rave reviews in The Economist, Harper's Magazine, and The New York Review of Books, among many other outlets. The New Yorker called it, "...A harrowing portrait of our justice system."
Praise for his 2013 book, "The Best Film You've Never Seen" came from critic Roger Ebert, who said, "How necessary this book is! And how well judged and written! Some of the best films ever made, as Elder proves, are lamentably all but unknown."
Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips called Elder's 2011 book "The Film That Changed My Life": "A great and provocative read...it's addictive." Film critic Leonard Maltin also said, "You'll have a hard time putting this book down."
Elder has deep roots in the digital media and innovation spaces, having served as the Executive Director of Digital Product Development & Innovation for Crain Communications and Vice President of Content for Sun-Times Media Local. He has been a mentor at startup incubators such as 1871 Chicago and Northwestern University’s The Garage.
Elder’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Paris Review, Salon.com and many other publications. Elder has held leadership positions at Blockchain News, AOL Huffington Post Media Group’s Patch.com and the Chicago Sun-Times. For almost a decade, Elder served as a staff writer at the Chicago Tribune.
A former member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Elder has taught film classes at Facets Film School. He has taught journalism at Northwestern University's Medill School and Columbia College.
A Montana native and graduate of the University of Oregon, Elder lives and writes in Chicagoland.
His official website is: http://robelder.com
