The Agora Journalism Center at the School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) is the University of Oregon’s forum for the future of local news and civic health in Oregon and beyond. The center was formed in 2014 with the foundational belief that the health of democracy and journalism are inextricably linked. Since then, the center has been a critical champion for the idea that professional journalism must become more participatory and collaborative with the public if journalism is to meaningfully improve communities’ information health and earn the public’s trust in local news media.

A Fourth Act is an interdisciplinary collective of storytellers, facilitators, researchers, designers and technologists using stories and technology to empower audiences in becoming agents of change in their communities. By honoring the knowledge of the community and our roots are in storytelling and journalism, A Fourth Act will work with you to build engagement from the ground up.

In addition to providing creative and strategic direction, DeVigal instilled innovative methodologies to storytelling and audience engagement, orchestrated diverse team talents and fostered collaboration across the studio. He also led the content strategy team where he led the vision to put story first in every studio project. One particular lab-driven project he envisioned and brought to life was Shape of Story: an interactive screening experience that used a mobile web application to capture and visualize audience feedback in order to spark meaningful conversation about the content.

DeVigal was instrumental in helping to shape the overall transformation of The New York Times from print to digital by fostering an innovative and collaborative environment. Working closely with editors and reporters across disciplines of graphics, video, photo and technology, he pioneered new approaches to interactive storytelling while maintaining his commitment to journalistic integrity. He hired and managed a staff of multimedia journalists and technologists whose projects received many accolades including a Dupont and Emmy awards. Through his extensive reach, DeVigal expanded the team across disparate industries including radio, tech and motion design. And he helped conceive and produce story forms and processes that still influence The New York Times today.

During his four-year tenure at his alma mater’s journalism department, DeVigal had the privilege of working with a passionate faculty and was given the opportunity to push the curriculum in online storytelling and visual journalism. He led the online capstone class and published Xpress Online which won several online awards and received industry-wide recognition. During this time, he also conceived and created Interactive Narratives.

As co-principal of DeVigal Design, a graphic design and web consultancy firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, DeVigal received many accolades for its design work, particularly his hand in redesigning several online publications including The Honolulu Advertiser’s website, Albany’s (NY) The Times Union web site, The Associated Press, Newsday.com and several start-ups in Silicon Valley. Founded in 1998, DeVigal Design created award-winning visuals in print, online and interactive design. At the core of their success has been an interdisciplinary focus that draws on their combined experiences in fine arts, technology, business and journalism.

DeVigal was a Poynter Fellow, the longest in its history, from 1996 to 2004. In addition to leading countless design, graphics, photojournalism and interactive storytelling seminars and programs, he was a research associate and co-program director for The 2000 Stanford-Poynter Eye-track Research Project which studied online news site consumers.

DeVigal was an interface producer, UX and visual designer for Knight-Ridder New Media web sites. He created graphics using Illustrator and Photoshop, coded in HTML and javascript to develop and shape the user’ experience for KRNM's products and services including Inkling, Just Go, CarHunter and Real Cities. DeVigal also collaborated with project managers and third party technology vendors such as Zip2.

DeVigal designed the early look and feel of Internet Chicago Tribune. Along with being the interface designer for the entire web site, responsibilities included producing web-enhanced story packages working with editors, reporters, photo and graphic editors. He designed and helped produce the groundbreaking Crimes Package in 1996. The package allowed visitors to enter their zip code or click on an interactive neighborhood map to get a visual representation of the crimes reported in their neighborhood. This interactive database-driven story package was the first of its kind.

As a graphic journalist, DeVigal illustrated and produced informational graphics, illustrations, charts and maps under tight deadlines on a daily basis.

As a staff artist, DeVigal converted AP graphics and produced original informational graphics, illustrations, charts and maps under tight deadlines on a daily basis.