Journalism

I’ve spent my entire career chasing the story. I have embedded into communities as a journalist, ridden night buses to ancient Asian cities, slept with crocodiles, hiked the same trails as Che Guevara, and listened to neighbors, business owners, chefs, students and seniors share their trials and joys. Through this pursuit, I’ve learned that the listening part is the most important, the best way to effect change is through empathy, and visuals can be the most powerful medium for storytelling.

Sattorius Uddyback, rear left, helps cousin Taekwon Griffin with his bow tie at their West Asheville home before the Asheville High prom, Saturday, May 16, 2015.

Sattorius Uddyback, rear left, helps cousin Taekwon Griffin with his bow tie at their West Asheville home before the Asheville High prom, Saturday, May 16, 2015.

Catherine Cruz watches the crowd as her father, Senator Ted Cruz, takes a moment of silence to respect the late Justice Antonin Scalia during his event in Columbia following the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, on Saturday, Feb. 20, 20

Catherine Cruz watches the crowd as her father, Senator Ted Cruz, takes a moment of silence to respect the late Justice Antonin Scalia during his event in Columbia following the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016.

Mickey Donathan, CRNA at the Charles George VA Medical Center, stands in the hallway outside the operating wing on one of her last days at work, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. Donathan, 76, has been a nurse in the Asheville, N.C. area for 55 years, servin

Mickey Donathan, CRNA at the Charles George VA Medical Center, stands in the hallway outside the operating wing on one of her last days at work, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. Donathan, 76, has been a nurse in the Asheville, N.C. area for 55 years, serving three hospitals, training hundreds of anesthesia students and caring for countless patients.

The office area at Meeting Street Lofts in Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 4, 2018. Shot for Kane Residential and FCP.

The office area at Meeting Street Lofts in Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 4, 2018. Shot for Kane Residential and FCP.

Tom Orr, left, Joe Waldroup, Roy Grooms and Robert Jordan sit outside Time-Out gas station in Robbinsville, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014. Waldroup and Grooms are both former moonshine makers, and Grooms appears on the Discovery Channel show "Moonsh

Tom Orr, left, Joe Waldroup, Roy Grooms and Robert Jordan sit outside Time-Out gas station in Robbinsville, N.C., Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014. Waldroup and Grooms are both former moonshine makers, and Grooms appears on the Discovery Channel show "Moonshiners".

Maverick Brunson, 17, smokes a Black&Mild cigarette in his car after getting off his 8-hour shift at Food Lion in Durham, N.C., on April 17, 2013. At the time, Brunson worked more than 40 hours a week to provide for himself, his 1-year-old child, Mad

Maverick Brunson, 17, smokes a Black&Mild cigarette in his car after getting off his 8-hour shift at Food Lion in Durham, N.C., on April 17, 2013. At the time, Brunson worked more than 40 hours a week to provide for himself, his 1-year-old child, Madi, and his girlfriend, all while trying to graduate on time.

Attendees of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe candlelight vigil stand in a circle outside the tribal lodge and listen to speakers in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013. The tribe held the vigil for the wolves, which Native Americans con

Attendees of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe candlelight vigil stand in a circle outside the tribal lodge and listen to speakers in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013. The tribe held the vigil for the wolves, which Native Americans consider their brothers, that were the subject of the first annual Michigan wolf hunt in small pockets of the Upper Peninsula.

Attendees of the Inaugural Women's March proceed down 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands came out to the National Mall to call for progressive change in the United States.

Attendees of the Inaugural Women's March proceed down 15th Street NW in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands came out to the National Mall to call for progressive change in the United States.

David Surath, known locally as "Tan Man", stands in front of the Bay County Community Pool on July 3, 2013, in Bay City, Mich. Surath spent nearly every day at the pool during the summer. "Some people drink," he said. "Some people take medications, b

David Surath, known locally as "Tan Man", stands in front of the Bay County Community Pool on July 3, 2013, in Bay City, Mich. Surath spent nearly every day at the pool during the summer. "Some people drink," he said. "Some people take medications, but I tan."

A model unit at Meeting Street Lofts in Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 4, 2018. Shot for Kane Residential and FCP.

A model unit at Meeting Street Lofts in Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 4, 2018. Shot for Kane Residential and FCP.

Robin Marks, left, and Mike Miller wait for customers to play the cork gun game on opening day of the 2014 North Carolina Mountain State Fair in Fletcher, N.C., at the WNC Agricultural Center.

Robin Marks, left, and Mike Miller wait for customers to play the cork gun game on opening day of the 2014 North Carolina Mountain State Fair in Fletcher, N.C., at the WNC Agricultural Center.

Sunrise streams through open beams during construction at Park Central in Raleigh, N.C., on April 2, 2017. Shot for Kane Residential.

Sunrise streams through open beams during construction at Park Central in Raleigh, N.C., on April 2, 2017. Shot for Kane Residential.

A participant flips into an ice pool during the 4th annual Mad Mountain Mud Run in Hendersonville's Balfour Park, Saturday, May 30, 2015. More than 1,000 runners compete in muddy obstacles over a three-mile course.

A participant flips into an ice pool during the 4th annual Mad Mountain Mud Run in Hendersonville's Balfour Park, Saturday, May 30, 2015. More than 1,000 runners compete in muddy obstacles over a three-mile course.

A barista makes a latte at Videri Chocolate Factor in Downtown Raleigh's Warehouse District on June 7, 2017. Neighborhood and district life photographed for Kane Residential.

A barista makes a latte at Videri Chocolate Factor in Downtown Raleigh's Warehouse District on June 7, 2017. Neighborhood and district life photographed for Kane Residential.

Skiers and snowboarders enjoy the fresh powder on the slopes at Wolf Ridge Ski Resort in Wolf Laurel, N.C., Feb. 26, 2015. The resort offers half off tickets and rentals on snow days, bringing many adventurous snow lovers out to the mountain.

Skiers and snowboarders enjoy the fresh powder on the slopes at Wolf Ridge Ski Resort in Wolf Laurel, N.C., Feb. 26, 2015. The resort offers half off tickets and rentals on snow days, bringing many adventurous snow lovers out to the mountain.

Hundreds of soccer fans react while watching the USA team take on Germany in the group round of the 2014 World Cup in Detroit's Cadillac Square on Thursday, June 26, 2014.

Hundreds of soccer fans react while watching the USA team take on Germany in the group round of the 2014 World Cup in Detroit's Cadillac Square on Thursday, June 26, 2014.

Aurora Garcia, center, is comforted by a friend before the beginning of a vigil for her nephew Andreas DeJesus, who was shot and killed during the 50th annual Cinco de Mayo parade on Sunday, May 4, 2014, in Southwest Detroit.

Aurora Garcia, center, is comforted by a friend before the beginning of a vigil for her nephew Andreas DeJesus, who was shot and killed during the 50th annual Cinco de Mayo parade on Sunday, May 4, 2014, in Southwest Detroit.

New Body, New Life.

Mark Celi thought his life was over when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease at age 52. He couldn't work, couldn't use his body the same way and fell into a depression. Then he found a boxing class at The Centers at St. Camillus for people just like him, and he punched his way back into his life.

Created as part of the May 2017 NPPA Multimedia Immersion Workshop in Syracuse, New York.

Credits:
Visuals, story, production, editing - Katie Bailey
Editing, coaching - McKenna Ewan
Copyright - Katie Bailey