Our panelists are: Former podcaster, strategic communications specialist, and aid worker Jefferson Mok, photojournalist Alex Garland, and Capitol Hill blog reporter and former SPJUW president Kelsey Hamlin. We will discuss their experiences reporting on dangerous issues like protests and natural disasters, tips for best practices, and rights for journalists. Our panelists will talk about their experiences reporting in the field and share their tips for best practices.
About the panelists
Jefferson Mok
Jefferson is a strategic communications specialist and aid worker who assisted last year’s humanitarian response to Hurricane Matthew in Haiti and the 2014 Ebola epidemic response in West Africa. Previously, Jefferson lived in Burundi in East Africa for four years where he created the local radio program Imagine Burundi, which explored life in a bustling post-conflict context. Jefferson holds Masters degrees in journalism and in international affairs from Columbia University. Before that, he graduated from Grinnell College with degrees in philosophy and in French. Contrary to everyone’s predictions, the French and philosophy degrees have been invaluable to his work.
Alex Garland
Alex Garland is currently working as a photojournalist with CapitolHillSeattle.com. For the past 5 years he has been working as a freelancer in Seattle and beyond, covering news and events with a focus on environmental and social justice. Also a reporter and writer, Alex has been published in one way or another in almost every media outlet in Seattle. His wide variety of experiences include documenting the Occupy movement, Black Lives Matter, No DAPL, and many others. You can view more of his work at alexgarlandphotography.com or his blog, thedignityvirus.com.
Kelsey Hamlin
Kelsey has a B.A in Journalism from the University of Washington (UW) with Interdisciplinary Honors, and a minor in Law, Societies & Justice. She was also President of the Society of Professional Journalists UW student chapter. Her work has been in the campus newspaper The Daily as well as the South Seattle Emerald. She is now a full time reporter with the Capitol Hill Blog.
Categorical expertise: Politics, legalities and policies, immigration, and homelessness