Robert Duffer, Senior Editor

Robert Duffer is an award-winning writer, editor, and automotive journalist covering the industry since 2013. He earned an MFA in Writing from Columbia College Chicago and a BA in Economics & Business Administration from Illinois State University. As the Senior Editor for The Car Connection and contributing editor for Motor Authority and Green Car Reports, he’s interviewed the executives and investigated the trends reshaping the automotive industry’s transformation into electric mobility. Previously, Duffer served as a Senior Journalist and Digital News Editor at the Chicago Tribune for seven years in another industry in transition, reporting on and editing automotive content for a digital and print audience that was syndicated to more than 140 news outlets via the Tribune Content Agency newswire. His syndicated auto review column was distributed nationally and digitized globally, and he oversaw a team of freelancers consisting of North American Car and Truck of the Year jurists and collaborated with Pulitzer-winning photographers, copy editors, and page designers in running the print and digital versions of the automotive vertical. As a freelancer, Duffer wrote about cars for outlets such as Forbes.com, Cars.com, US News Autos, among others, and covered the cultural arts and contributed essays in outlets ranging from the Chicago Tribune and TimeOut Chicago to the New York Times and National Public Radio. Beyond journalism and editing, Duffer wrote stories and essays anthologized in books such as “The Way We Sleep” and “Daddy Cool,” published novel excerpts in a range of journals, and won the One Book One Chicago flash fiction contest sponsored by the Chicago Public Library in October 2011. He’s written ad copy, edited a range of copy from gift guides to award-winning student anthologies, and is versed in both the Chicago Manual of Style and AP Style. Duffer has also moderated and served on many panels, ranging from the Clean Cities Coalition to the Chicago Auto Show. He’s a frequent guest on podcast and radio shows, ranging from WGN Radio to Chicago Drives Electric and many others. As President of the Midwest Automotive Media Association, Duffer led a volunteer organization consisting of more than 250 members in 25 states and two countries by organizing three tentpole driving events in the country and wrangling affiliates and automaker representatives to grow MAMA into the premier automotive media association in the country. Duffer's extensive industry experience, combined with his educational background and diverse writing portfolio, make him a trusted voice in the automotive realm. His contributions to The Car Connection and other notable publications continue to shape the conversation around cars and driving. Connect with Duffer on social media and stay up-to-date with his latest insights and automotive adventures.