ROB WEIR started his journalism career at 15, working in the job printing department of The Examiner in Independence, Mo. A third-generation Missouri journalist, Weir is a 1999 graduate of the University of Missouri with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science. Weir subsequently worked on a master’s degree in U.S. history at Missouri, studying partisanship at Missouri newspapers from 1867-1890. After leaving Missouri, he took a job at the Star-News in Wilmington, N.C., working as a copy editor and then as assistant features editor. He became the first managing editor of the Columbia Missourian’s eMprint editions in 2005, and is currently the director of digital development for the Columbia Missourian. He’s in charge of all the technology for the Missourian, Vox magazine, MyMissourian and other projects of the news, magazine and photo departments. His professional interests include digital journalism, information controls and freedom of information, and the intersection of technology and popular culture.