I am a transmedia specialist based in Los Angeles and a graduate student in online journalism at the University of Southern California, where I also work as the editor of special projects at NeonTommy.com, the nation’s top university-based news site. Before that, I worked full-time as a program assistant at Physicians for Human Rights, and I also freelanced for the Northwest Current, a D.C. newspaper, and for a number of Web-based publications. For clips, see “my clips”.
Since I started graduate school, I’ve designed a Web site for immigrant communities in Los Angeles and a food politics Tumblr blog. I’ve reported for KCRW, KPCC and KCET - three prominent local broadcast stations. I’ve written stories from South African slums, and I’ve been trapped in a lockdown at a South L.A. high school during a gun scare. I’ve also spearheaded investigative projects on some of L.A.’s toughest social issues, including the foreclosure epidemic and a notorious former nuclear laboratory. On quieter days, I’ve made some interactive graphics.
I graduated magna cum laude from American University in 2008 with a dual degree in Political Science and Communications, Law, Economics and Government. In my quest to change the world, I somehow managed to have six undergraduate internships. Through those, I learned how to lead media campaigns for nonprofit, media and private sector clients.
You can reach me at Olga.Khazan[at]gmail.com. You can also find me on Twitter and LinkedIn.