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Jonah M. Kessel on Muck Rack

Jonah M. Kessel

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Beijing, New York
As seen in: The New York Times, La Nación (Argentina), Sydney Morning Herald, Chron, The Seattle Times, The Sunday Age, ABS-CBN News, Brisbane Times, Committee to Protect Journalists, Buffalo News, WAtoday and
Covers:  international affairs, myanmar, lifestyle, burma, protests, asia, culture, politics, people, religion, conflict, human rights, climate change, china, environmental issues
Deputy Director, Opinion Video, @nytopinion @nytimes. I make explanatory & investigative short-form documentaries & innovative forms of visual journalism.

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Jonah M. Kessel’s Biography

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Jonah M. Kessel is a video journalist and cinematographer currently working for the New York Times, based in Beijing, China.

Pervious to his position at the Times, Kessel took still pictures and created short form documentary for a diverse group of publications around the world.

Kessel has been the recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Justice and Human Rights, the Edwin Hood Diplomatic Award for Broadcast, the Human Rights Press Award from Amnesty International and was the field video j…

Jonah M. Kessel’s Journalist Portfolio

Jade's Journey Marked by Drugs and Death

Jade's Journey Marked by Drugs and Death

As China grows, so does its appetite for jade. But the gemstone's journey from Myanmar's mines to China's con…

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A Man Takes His Cabbage for a Walk

A Man Takes His Cabbage for a Walk

The Chinese performance artist Han Bing drags a cabbage through city centers as a social commentary on people…

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The Evolution of Joshua Wong

The Evolution of Joshua Wong

Only 17, Joshua Wong cannot vote, but he is at the forefront of a student movement for democracy in Hong Kong.

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China's E-Cigarette Boom

China's E-Cigarette Boom

Ninety percent of the world's e-cigarettes are made in China. Experts warn, however, that poorly manufactured…

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On the Silk Road, Oil and Tensions Flow

On the Silk Road, Oil and Tensions Flow

More than half a century since China started pumping oil in its arid west, tensions continue to rise over ine…

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Myanmar Emerges: Promise and Peril

Myanmar Emerges: Promise and Peril

Myanmar Emerges is a year-long GlobalPost investigation into challenges facing Myanmar's nascent democracy. P…

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Articles

The New York Times: New hires and new roles in Opinion Shows

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By Annie-Rose Strasser Verified, Jonah M. Kessel Verified, Alison Bruzek Verified
| Editor & Publisher Verified
Opinion Shows is thrilled to announce that we have hired four people to join our team. Ali Baluch is the new audience strategy editor for Opinion Shows. Ali’s background is in video production and digital strategy. He recently served as an associate producer at MTV. Ali has worked across preproduction and post, developing segment pitches, managing production schedules and licensing agreements and overseeing content distribution across MTV and Paramount+ social platforms.
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Erica Berenstein joins New York Times Opinion

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By Jonah M. Kessel Verified
| Editor & Publisher Verified
We are thrilled to welcome Erica Berenstein back to The Times as executive producer of Opinion Video. She will lead a growing team of journalists whose original reporting and visual storytelling tackle the world’s most pressing issues. Erica returns after more than seven years at Business Insider, where she was head of video and deputy editor in chief. At B.I., Erica launched new show formats like “View From Above” and “Insider Docs,” and built a video team that won multiple Emmys, Edward R.
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Stephanie Shen joins New York Times Opinion - Editor and Publisher

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By Adam B. Ellick Verified, Jonah M. Kessel Verified
| Editor & Publisher Verified
As we continue to expand the reach of our journalism with vertical video, we’re delighted to announce Stephanie Shen is joining Times Opinion as a vertical video editor. Stephanie, it seems, has had a camera in her hand forever. She has been taking photos and making videos since she was 8 years old. At The College of New Jersey she realized her passion could be a career when she was invited to the 2020 Cannes Film Festival after her short was nominated for best documentary by Campus Movie Fest.
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Interview

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How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?

Human based narratives that include something actually happening. Humans make more interesting stories than topics themselves.

What's your favorite social network?

Twitter has certainly been the most useful social media platform for me. It has become integrated into my life and workflow seamlessly.

Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?

I was the editor of my high school yearbook, which was a full time job. I also was the photo editor of my college's newspaper.

Awards

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Pulitzer Prize

2012 - Explanatory Journalism

In 2012, Kessel was a member of the Pulitzer Prize winning team for Explanatory Journalism, for his work with the New York Times documenting the business practices of Apple and other technology companies entitled “The iEconomy.”

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Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for Justice and Human Rights

2013 - New Media

New Media Award for Myanmar Emerges. Winning entries provide insights into the causes, conditions, and remedies of human rights violations and injustice, and critical analyses of the movements that foster positive global change.

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Human Rights Press Awards

2013 - 1st Place, English Language Online Reporting

“Youth Interrupted: Underage, Illiterate Breadwinners” – Text and reporting by Patrick Winn, photos and video by Jonah M. Kessel” The Human Rights Press Awards were the first such honors in Asia and have achieved international recognition as among the more prestigious professional awards that a journalist or news organization can achieve.

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National Press Photographer’s Association: Best of Photojournalism

2013 - Finalist, Best Solo Video Journalist

“The People’s Supervision” “Renowned as “the contests designed for photojournalists by photojournalists,” and incorporating the many facets of the visual journalism industry, NPPA’s Best of Photojournalism competitions attract the most talented professionals in still, video, multimedia, and editing, year after year.”

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National Press Club Award

2014 - Edwin Hood Diplomatic Award for Broadcast

The Edwin M. Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence recognize excellence in reporting on diplomatic and foreign policy issues. Entrants must demonstrate an understanding of American foreign policy and how foreign affairs affect those policies.

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Society of American Business Editors and Writers

2014 - 1st Place, Best in Business Digital Journalism

For Myanmar Emerges “Ambitious and worthy. In-depth look at how a country with a long, troubled history tries to transition into a nation that promises it citizens both greater political and economic freedom. This year-long series was a real eye-opener and an example of digital storytelling at its finest.”

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Society of American Business Editors and Writers

2014 - 1st Place, Best in Business International Explanatory Journalism

For Myanmar Emerges “This series makes it abundantly clear why Myanmar is an important subject. A clear picture emerges of a struggling democracy with huge problems – the worst child labor in the world. Excellent videos and heartbreaking portraits of youngsters working very tough jobs under horrible conditions makes this a compelling multimedia package.”

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Webby Awards

2013 - Honoree, Online Film and Video: Documentary Series for

International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, Honoree, Online Film and Video: Documentary Series for “Myanmar Emerges.“

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Webby Awards

2013 - Honoree, Online Film and Video, Documentary

International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, Honoree, Online Film and Video, Documentary: Individual Episode for “Promise & Peril“

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Webby Awards

2013 - Honoree, Online Film and Video, Documentary: News and Politics Series

International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences Honoree, Online Film and Video, Documentary: News and Politics Series for “Myanmar Emerges.“

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Pictures of the Year International

2014 - Multimedia Photographer of the Year
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Pictures of the Year International

2014 - Documentary Journalism
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Society of Publishers in Asia

2015 - Excellence in Digital News
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