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Rodney Gibbs

Rodney Gibbs’s staff photo

Rodney Gibbs is the former executive director of The Texas Tribune’s Revenue Lab. Launched in 2020, RevLab helps newsrooms around the world adopt the Tribune’s playbook for financial sustainability, and it experiments with new revenue ideas, which it tests locally and then shares freely. A TV writer turned entrepreneur, Rodney founded and sold two digital media companies before joining the Tribune in 2012 as its chief innovation officer. In 2015, he became the Tribune’s first chief product officer. Rodney is a board member of the Online News Association, an organizer of Hacks/Hackers Austin, and a past board member of KLRU/Austin PBS, KUT/Austin NPR and the Austin Film Society. Outside of work, he’s passionate about film, record collecting and coaching his son’s baseball team. Rodney has a bachelor's degree from Rice University and a master's degree from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin.

Past Contributions

  • TribLive: A Conversation with Tony Garza

    By Rodney Gibbs

    Garza served as the U.S. ambassador to Mexico from 2002 to 2009. He had previously served as chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, as the Texas secretary of state and as a Cameron County judge. A South Texas native, he currently serves as counsel in the Mexico City office of White & Case LLP and as chairman of Vianovo Ventures, a management consultancy. This event was recorded before a live audience in Austin on April 18, 2013. Our TribLive events feature discussions with our honored guests followed by questions from the audience. For more information on Tribune events, please visit http://www.texastribune.org/events/. Full Story 

    Antonio Garza, the former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and former Texas railroad commissioner, during a TribLive event on April 18, 2013.
    Credit: Tamir Kalifa

  • TribLive: A Conversation with Ken Starr

    By Rodney Gibbs

    Ken Starr became the 14th president of Baylor University in June 2010. Before coming to Waco, he was the dean and a professor of law at Pepperdine University, where he taught current constitutional issues and civil procedure. Starr has argued 36 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including 25 cases during his tenure as solicitor general of the United States from 1989-93. He also served as U.S. judge for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1983 to 1989, as law clerk to Chief Justice Warren Burger from 1975-77 and as law clerk to U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge David W. Dyer from 1973 to 1974. This event was recorded before a live audience in Austin on April 29, 2013. Our TribLive events feature discussions with our honored guests followed by questions from the audience. For more information on Tribune events, please visit http://www.texastribune.org/events/. Full Story 

    Evan Smith speaks with Ken Starr, President of Baylor University, at a TribLive event on April 29, 2013.
    Credit: Tamir Kalifa

  • TribLive: A Conversation with Todd Staples

    By Rodney Gibbs

    Todd Staples has served as Texas' agriculture commissioner since 2007. Before that, he served as a state representative for House District 11 from 1997-2000 and as a state senator for Senate District 3 from 2001-2005. He has announced his intention to run for lieutenant governor in 2014. A former rancher and businessman, Staples graduated with honors from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics. This event was recorded before a live audience in Austin on May 2, 2013. Our TribLive events feature discussion with our honored guests followed by questions from the audience. For more information on Tribune events, please visit http://www.texastribune.org/events/. Full Story 

    Evan Smith talks with Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples during a TribLive event on May 2, 2013.
    Credit: Tamir Kalifa

  • TribLive: A Conversation About Transportation

    By Rodney Gibbs

    With the way Texas pays for its roads under the spotlight this session, Sen. Robert Nichols and state Rep. Larry Phillips joined Tribune reporter Aman Batheja for a conversation about transportation. This event was recorded before a live audience in Austin on April 4, 2013. TribLives feature moderated discussion with our honored guests followed by questions from the audience. For more information on Tribune events, please visit http://www.texastribune.org/events/. Full Story 

    TribLive with State Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville and State Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman - April 4, 2013.
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • TribLive: A Conversation with Cigarroa and Sharp

    By Rodney Gibbs

    Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of The University of Texas System, and John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, join Evan Smith, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of The Texas Tribune, in a conversation about higher education and the future of Texas' largest two university systems. This event was recorded before a live audience in Austin on March 28, 2013. TribLives feature moderated discussion with our honored guests followed by questions from the audience. For more information on Tribune events, please visit http://www.texastribune.org/events/. Full Story 

    UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa, l, and Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp at TribLive on March 28, 2013.
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • TribLive: A Conversation with Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams

    By Rodney Gibbs

    Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams joins Evan Smith, CEO of The Texas Tribune, in conversation about the state's public schools. This event was recorded before a live audience in Austin on January 10, 2013. TribLives feature moderated discussion with our honored guests followed by questions from the audience. For more information on Tribune events, please visit http://www.texastribune.org/events/. Full Story