Longform

Polk Award Winners: Jason Motlagh

Apr 19, 2024

Journalist and filmmaker Jason Motlagh discusses his award-winning investigative story on the gang warfare in Haiti, highlighting the impact on locals. He shares insights on reporting challenges, immersive experiences with gangs, and the expeditionary spirit driving his career. The conversation delves into the emotional depth of storytelling and the evolving landscape of journalism.

40:50

Episode guests

Jason Motlagh

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Quick takeaways

Jason Motlagh emphasizes the importance of believing in the purpose of the story beyond personal gain.

Jason discusses the collaborative nature of film projects compared to the solitary process of print reporting.

Deep dives

Investigative Reporting in Haiti

The podcast episode delves into Jason Motlog's award-winning investigative journalism in Haiti. Jason sheds light on the disintegration of order in Haiti due to rampant gang violence. He embedded with gang leaders, including a powerful figure nicknamed Barbecue, to capture the complexities of the conflict and the impact on ordinary Haitians caught in the crossfire.

Intro

3min

Journalist's Reporting Journey in Haiti

6min

Immersing in Haiti: Capturing Perspectives Amidst Gangs and Violence

15min

Origins of an Expeditionary Approach

2min

Journey in Journalism: Challenges, Rewards, and Impact

12min

Navigating Emotional Depth in Interviews and Storytelling

3min

Jason Motlagh, a journalist and filmmaker, is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone and the founder of Blackbeard Films. He won the Polk's Sydney Schanberg Prize for “This Will End in Blood and Ashes,” an account of the collapse of order in Haiti.

“Once you've gotten used to this kind of metabolism, it can be hard to walk away from it. Ordinary life can be a little flat sometimes. And so that's always kind of built in. I accept that. I think I've just tried to be more honest about like, [am I taking this risk] because I need a bump my life? Or do you really believe in what you're doing? And I feel like I really do need to believe in the purpose of the story. There has to be some motivation greater than myself."

This is the last in a series of conversations with winners of this year's George Polk Awards in Journalism.

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Longform

Polk Award Winners: Jason Motlagh

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Investigative Reporting in Haiti

Risk and Sacrifice in Reporting

Balancing Print and Documentary Work

Connecting with Subjects and Impactful Reporting

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts