R. Thomas Umstead has had a diverse career in the telecommunications arena, having served as a writer, editor, producer, videographer, speaker and moderator during his more than 30-year career as a journalist. 
 
He has written extensively about the cable television business during his more than quarter century tenure at cable trade publication Multichannel News, where he currently serves as senior content producer of programming covering content development, talent signings, program scheduling and distribution agreements for more than 500 cable networks as well as emerging digital and over-the-top online services such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon. 

Umstead is also Multimedia Editor for the Multichannel News website (www.multichannel.com), responsible for filming, editing and producing video news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers, actors and celebrity personalities. Umstead has produced, edited and posted more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports through several video franchises including "One-On-One In 2" and "Multicultural Perspectives."

Prior to his current assignments, Umstead served as editor for Multichannel News’ MCN Multicultural Newsletter featuring breaking news, feature stories and  investigative stories revolving around multicultural trends and issues within the cable industry

Umstead has also worked both in front of and behind the television camera, having been interviewed about cable television issues and trends on Fox News, CNBC and NBC's The Today Show. He has also conducted numerous television interviews with key cable television executives for industry-based digital news outlets The Nelson Network and The Cable Center.

As a videographer, he has filmed, produced, edited and uploaded video interviews with a cadre of cable executives as well as celebrities and entertainment personalities like Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Raven Symone, Jennifer Lopez and Wendy Williams.

Umstead has moderated numerous panels focusing on telecommunications issues for Multichannel News, Broadcasting & Cable, The National Cable Television Association, The National Association For Multi-Ethnicity In Communications and Horowitz Research.

Umstead has served on the Board of Directors of The National Association Of Multi-Ethnicity In Communications, a non-profit, multicultural telecommunications advocacy organization, as well as the Board of Directors of the Greater Centennial Federal Credit Union. He is also a member of the Television Critics Association and the National Association of Black Journalists.

Umstead graduated Iona College with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Journalism. He resides in New York with his wife and two daughters.