The Long Telegram

So a post below says I got a new job. No lie. That job has been keeping me busy doing things like this:

I’ve updated my portfolio with new vids from the West Coast, and I think I might use this space to tell the story of how my cameras were stolen and will be (hopefully) found. That will come someday soon.

Posted some new work to my portfolio.

SCPR's new headquarters in Pasadena, Calif. My new home base. (Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Independent)

Six months ago, I arrived in D.C. with a bit of unfinished business and an uncertain future. Part of that uncertainty rested in my own conflicted conceptions about what I wanted to become as a journalist as I finished graduate school. I have made some form of a living for four years on words alone. And the empty notebook has led me to amazing places in the pursuit of filling it.

But in the last two years, I have gravitated toward visual journalism as a powerful medium to do basically the same thing I had done previously with a word processor. I found myself consuming more images and sounds from news sites I originally queued up for their written content. I bought my own camera and tried to copy the best of what I saw. This time, the camera won out. I’m more than thrilled to head to Los Angeles and join the staff at Southern California Public Radio where I will wear at least five different hats: videographer, staff photographer, multimedia trainer, fundraising content creator and outreach through social multimedia platforms.

My first semi-journalism job was as a lowly unpaid grunt at my hometown public radio station. And this is a great opportunity to join a news outlet with big plans. Public radio is an exciting part of the journalism landscape right now. Seeking an audience on the web is essential to the future of radio and visual journalism is a big part of that equation. The web is an increasingly visual space. But in terms of video for radio, there are no rules. Video efforts at NPR nationally have led to very interesting results that I’ve been following for years.

SCPR is growing and flourishing in this new environment. And I’m excited to help them produce video content that will add value to their news report while helping to push the on-air conversation forward. The efforts will range from short news pieces to the types of short web documentaries that I know, love and post with frequency in this space. My hope is to create a video report that is local in focus – LA is a fascinating place, an ecosystem unto itself – but larger in terms of storytelling arc. The station is part of American Public Media based in Minnesota and also a part of NPR’s Argo network, which shares content among member stations. I’m excited to be under the banner of both these entities.

I will continue to post to The Long Telegram about issues and inspiration related to my journalism career. I have really enjoyed my time in Washington, and I wouldn’t be anywhere without the support of my friends and family here who have helped put me on this new and exciting path. Can’t wait to see what’s next!