David Rochkind

David Rochkind is the Founder and CEO of GROUND, a storytelling studio that specializes in creating video-based persuasion campaigns for purpose-driven organizations. With a career spanning over two decades, David’s work has consistently focused on leveraging the power of storytelling to drive measurable social and political impact. He began as an international photojournalist, documenting some of the world’s most pressing issues for outlets like The New York Times, TIME Magazine, and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Before founding GROUND, David spent a decade as a documentary photographer and filmmaker, focusing on the human stories behind global crises. His award-winning monograph, Heavy Hand, Sunken Spirit, captures the deep societal effects of Mexico’s violent drug war. His journalism not only captured moments of conflict but also informed new forms of public engagement, including a high school curriculum on public health.

At GROUND, David continues to lead the field in impactful storytelling. He developed StoryHeat, a proprietary research platform that merges data-driven audience insights with emotionally resonant narratives to craft campaigns that achieve measurable results. Under his leadership, GROUND has produced award-winning campaigns for nonprofits, Fortune 50 brands, and foundations. David also pioneered a Collaborative Storytelling framework that ensures the people whose stories are being told remain at the center of every campaign, empowering them to retain full ownership and control of their narrative.