My First Post!
Thank you for being here.
Welcome to my Substack.
1. Allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Laurel Chor and I’m an independent journalist, photographer, documentary filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer from Hong Kong. A lot of things interest me, but here’s how I try to sum it up: I cover the greatest threats to the flourishing of all on this planet: conflict, oppression, and the environmental crisis.
2. Why a Substack?
I wanted a platform of my own to publish my work, including more personal writing. In an ever-shifting media landscape that has felt on the verge of total collapse for the entirety of my career, I am getting kind of tired of depending on media publications to not just reply to my emails, but to keep existing (especially in a way that allows freelance journalism to survive). So, I’m hoping I can carve out an independent space for my work.
3. What to expect
I’ll publish pieces that I would traditionally pitch to media organizations. Think photo-and-text pieces on the wide variety of topics that interest me: news, conflict, politics, the environment, culture. I’ll also be posting more personal musings as a nomadic freelance journalist, photographer, documentary filmmaker and (brand-new) podcaster. I’m going to publish posts at least once every two weeks.
4. Who this is for
People who want to support independent journalists like myself and who are curious about what goes on under the hood of my work.
5. Thank you!
This is a slightly nerve-wracking experiment and I am truly grateful that anyone is willing to consume and support whatever it is that I put out there in the world.