:en:Andrew Baron

Baron holds a BA in Philosophy from Bates College and a master of Fine Arts in Design and Technology from Parsons School of Design.

In 1999, Baron was the owner of a visual and performing arts gallery, Movements Gallery on 6th Street in Austin, Texas which the Austin Chronicle named 'Best New Multi-Disciplinary Space in Austin' in the 'Best of Austin's Critics Poll'.{{cite web|url=http://a.parsons.edu/~baron/gallery.html |title=Movements Gallery - Andrew Baron |accessdate=2011-09-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007060841/http://a.parsons.edu/~baron/gallery.html |archivedate=October 7, 2011 |df=mdy }}

An active music composer throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Baron scored numerous scores for Austin-area artists, including "Mad About Harry", a film by AMFILMS awarded as a Hollywood Film Festival, 2000 finalist. He was appointed by the City of Austin Arts Commission to serve as a Mixed Arts Advisory Panelist, 2001.{{cite web|url=http://a.parsons.edu/~baron/portfolio.html |title=Andrew Baron - Portfolio |accessdate=2011-09-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926121332/http://a.parsons.edu/~baron/portfolio.html |archivedate=September 26, 2011 |df=mdy }}

File:Andrew Baron Sarah Austin.jpg in 2008]]

After releasing Rocketboom in late 2004, Baron established himself as one of the first vloggers and arguably one of the most influential. With Rocketboom, Baron built one of the first large audiences around a video show, and went on to generate the first large-scale advertising deals.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/public/article/SB117873682757897483-YOE18NkHlFKKRDnCxjJx_OTtvvE_20080513.html |title=How to be a Star in a YouTube World - WSJ.com |access-date=March 13, 2017 |archive-date=September 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929033134/http://www.wsj.com/public/article/SB117873682757897483-YOE18NkHlFKKRDnCxjJx_OTtvvE_20080513.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.dembot.net/011627.html |title=Dembot: Chit Chat |access-date=September 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402101939/http://www.dembot.net/011627.html |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

On August 19, 2005, Baron was interviewed on CBS Evening News. In an "Eye on America", segment CBS veteran Jim Axelrod commented on the effort at daily news coverage on a limited budget and Baron's early grasp of the next Internet wave. "You know what they call that? Vision."{{Cite web|url=http://futuremediatv.blogspot.com/2005/08/cbs-features-rocketboom-leading.html|title=- FutureMedia News, Reviews, Interviews, Analysis, Expos, Press Events, Parties: CBS Features Rocketboom Leading Vlogger Revolution • Andrew Baron Admits $25-A-Day Expense • Amanda Congdon Shines • Jim Axelrod Giddy with Exclusive}}

Baron directed a portion of "Killer", an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation which aired February 2, 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2284715/|title=Andrew Baron|website=IMDb }}

Steve Jobs featured Baron's Rocketboom on stage when releasing the video iPod{{Cite web |url=http://www.dembot.net/006807.html |title=Dembot: Apple Video iPod Demo |access-date=September 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402101944/http://www.dembot.net/006807.html |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=dead }} and again when releasing the Apple TV.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dembot.net/010811.html |title=Dembot: Rocketboom Affirmed by Hero |access-date=September 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402101950/http://www.dembot.net/010811.html |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

In March 2006, Baron commented on the sale of a week of advertising for $40,000 on eBay in Brandweek:

{{blockquote|"Advertising with us has extra value because we aren't going to accept advertising from someone whose morals are against us, someone like Hummer," said Rocketboom producer Andrew Baron. The creators of the show are acting as ad agency as well as media for the ads for TRM and EarthLink. "We've got to approve the ads and if we like them, chances are our viewers will like 'em."{{cite web |url=http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002034874 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060227173425/http://www.brandweek.com/bw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002034874 |archive-date=February 27, 2006 |title=Rocketboom Takes Off: Earthlink and TRM are First Advertisers}}}}

In 2008, Baron created the first version of the Know Your Meme database, to accompany a spin-off show he created and produced for Rocketboom.

Also in 2008, with one of the most followed Twitter accounts, Baron made international news when he put his Twitter account up for sale on eBay.{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-9917670-52.html |title=Rocketboom creator selling Twitter account on eBay {{!}} Geek Gestalt - CNET News |website=news.cnet.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320233602/http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-9917670-52.html |archive-date=2012-03-20}} {{Cite news |title=Selling Twitter account on eBay boosts its value |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2008-04-12/selling-twitter-account-on-ebay-boosts-its-value |access-date=2023-04-09 |newspaper=Bloomberg|date=April 13, 2008 }}{{Cite web |last=West |first=Jackson |title=Andrew Baron accelerates Twitter's descent into spam platform |url=https://www.gawker.com/379568/andrew-baron-accelerates-twitters-descent-into-spam-platform |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=Gawker |language=en}}

Baron released his third major site, Magma, in 2009.{{Cite web |url=http://dembot.com/post/106602229/magma |title=Magma! - Dembot |access-date=September 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914231307/http://dembot.com/post/106602229/magma |archive-date=September 14, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

In 2011, Baron sold Know Your Meme to Cheezburger in a reported "low seven-figure deal".{{Cite web |url=http://news.tubefilter.tv/2011/03/28/know-your-meme-acquired-by-cheezburger-in-seven-figure-deal/ |title='Know Your Meme' Acquired by Cheezburger in Seven-Figure Deal |access-date=September 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814130001/http://www.tubefilter.com/2011/03/28/know-your-meme-acquired-by-cheezburger-in-seven-figure-deal/ |archive-date=August 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{Cite web |last=Tsotsis |first=Alexia |date=2011-03-28 |title=When LOLs Collide: Cheezburger Network Buys Know Your Meme |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/03/28/when-lols-collide-cheezburger-network-buys-know-your-meme/ |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

Baron's work had been recognized by the Webbys,{{Cite web |url=http://www.dembot.net/009018.html |title=Dembot: Rocketboom Nominated for 2 Webby Awards! |access-date=September 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402101955/http://www.dembot.net/009018.html |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |url-status=dead }} the Vloggies and Streamys.{{Cite web |url=http://dembot.com/post/515551780/rocketboom-alyankovic-this-streamys-for-you |title=Rocketboom: @alyankovic this Streamy's for you!!... - Dembot |access-date=September 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918172217/http://dembot.com/post/515551780/rocketboom-alyankovic-this-streamys-for-you |archive-date=September 18, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Andrew Baron is the son of trial lawyer Fred Baron. Andrew Baron made international news again in 2008, when he used his blog to plead with a drug company to help save his father's life.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/10/14/rocketboom-founder-fighting-for-fathers-life-meanwhile-drug-company-committing-pr-suicide/|title = RocketBoom Founder Fighting for Father's Life; Meanwhile, Drug Company is Committing PR Suicide| date=October 14, 2008 }}

On November 16, 2017, Baron was arrested on charges that he stole money from his non-profit, Humanwire, to which he pled no contest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/29/andrew-baron-humanwire-plea-agreement/|title = Founder of Boulder charity for Syrian refugees pleads no contest to fraud, receives deferred sentence|date = October 29, 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Estabrook |first=Rachel |title=Boulder Charity Allegedly Cheated Donors, Syrian Refugees |url=https://www.cpr.org/show-segment/boulder-charity-allegedly-cheated-donors-syrian-refugees/ |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=Colorado Public Radio |date=December 4, 2017 |language=en}} According to Baron, {{Cite web|url=https://www.principalpost.com/in-fairness/andrew-baron|title = Humanwire founder Andrew Baron reflects on the charity's good work, challenges and unhappy ending.|date = October 19, 2020}} forensic accounting verified his side of the story and ended the court case. However, he pled no contest in order to end the case as quickly as possible.

Baron was charged with theft in excess of $100,000 from Humanwire, the nonprofit he established to help Syrian refugees.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/09/29/humanwire-boulder-syrian-refugees-aid-delayed/|title=Boulder entrepreneur under fire for nonprofit's fundraising practices amid delays in aid to Syrian war refugees|date=September 29, 2017}} Baron entered a plea of no contest in October 2018. "Prosecutors dropped two counts of theft between $100,000 and $1 million as part of the plea deal."{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/29/andrew-baron-humanwire-plea-agreement/|title = Founder of Boulder charity for Syrian refugees pleads no contest to fraud, receives deferred sentence|date = October 29, 2018}} Baron was also given a one-year deferred sentence, charged $26,999.97 in restitution, and made to perform 40 hours of community service. "An investigative report by The Denver Post in 2017 {{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/09/29/humanwire-boulder-syrian-refugees-aid-delayed/|title=Boulder entrepreneur under fire for nonprofit's fundraising practices amid delays in aid to Syrian war refugees|date=September 29, 2017}} found that the charity, which Baron founded in 2015, struggled with delays in promised aid to refugees.{{Cite web |date=2017-12-06 |title=She came from Lebanon to help fix a struggling nonprofit, but says she found evidence of a crime at Boulder's Humanwire |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/12/06/lebanon-to-colorado-nonprofit-humanwire-crime/ |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}} The newspaper found that more than 100 refugees who had been promised aid from Humanwire faced evictions and other deprivations, according to interviews with former volunteers, workers and donors."

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• Axelrod, Jim. CBS Evening News: "Eye on America" (August 19, 2005)[http://futuremediatv.blogspot.com/2005/08/cbs-features-rocketboom-leading.html]
• Farhi, Paul. "Rocketboom!": American Journalism Review (June–July, 2006) [https://web.archive.org/web/20060613004114/http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=4114]

{{commons category|Andrew Baron}}

• [http://www.dembot.net/ Andrew Baron's Official Blog]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051224201349/http://a.parsons.edu/~baron/ Andrew Baron's Biography]

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Category:1970 births

Category:American television directors

Category:Television producers from New York City

Category:American Internet celebrities

Category:Living people

Category:Parsons School of Design alumni

Category:Bates College alumni