Kriti Gandhi is one of the Claire Hollingworth Fellows for Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong, in this episode she sits down with Laurel Chor, an acclaimed Hong Kong-born journalist and visual storyteller known for her incisive reporting and striking photography. Laurel opens up about her dynamic career journey-from her early days at TIME OUT Hong Kong and Coconuts where she sharpened her writing and multimedia production skills, to her pivotal role at VICE. In 2018, Laurel made the bold decision to leave her full-time position to pursue freelancing, allowing her to focus on her passion for photography and independent storytelling.

Laurel delivered the closing keynote address at the 2025 journalism conference at the FCC in Hong Kong, as well as appearing on a panel discussing mental health challenges and practical solutions for journalists.

She candidly discusses the challenges of burnout in the fast-paced media world and shares valuable insights on the necessity of rest, setting boundaries, and maintaining mental health. She offers practical advice for young journalists on cultivating a personal brand and harnessing social media to amplify their voices in an increasingly crowded digital landscape, focusing on Instagram. The conversation also delves into the ethical complexities journalists face, especially when reporting from conflict zones like Ukraine. Laurel reflects on the responsibility of truth-telling under pressure and the delicate balance between storytelling and sensitivity.

Find Laurel Chor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurelchor/

Written and produced by Jarrod Watt

Theme music composed by Allen Youngblood

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