This week, I’m taking a slightly different approach to the newsletter—video—though it’s not too far from my usual wheelhouse. I’ve spent over two decades producing visual journalism, from my early days at ABC News in New York, to a long stretch with the New York Times in New York and Berlin, and then with various other outlets (including a recent hour of NOVA for PBS). I’ve always been passionate about visual storytelling. In fact, I’ve said before that to truly tell a story about a place, you need to be there. I still stand by that.
I’ve long held to the idea, perhaps a bit too tightly, that journalists shouldn’t be the story. But in today’s social media landscape, that norm has shifted. So, I’m stepping in front of the camera to tell a few of these stories. I’ll start small, simple standup style, and we’ll see how it evolves. I received some lovely encouragement so far from friends, family, as well as a couple of folks right here on Substack (Thanks, Amanda!). Of course, there will be ample drone footage.
I’ll also be working closely on many stories with my friend and collaborator Tod Mesirow, whose credits include Mythbusters, Sticker Shock, NOVA, and many more. The goal of this Substack remains the same: to help you experience California’s places, people, and hidden stories in richer ways. Video will be an addition, not a replacement, to the longer essays. I hope you enjoy the journey!
Here’s my piece on Mono Lake, one of the most mysterious and beautiful places in California, where chemistry, geology, and biology come together in some really surprising ways.
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