FEATURE STORIES WITH PHOTOS
*Scroll to the bottom for writing samples!
Note: Groove Korea deletes its digital archives of stories after a certain period of time. Therefore, the following are links to the PDF files rather than the online articles.
Project
Groove Korea is a Seoul-based print publication and has been Korea’s top-rated English magazine for the last 12 years. From September 2013 until April 2016, I wrote long-form feature stories and shot accompanying photographs for the magazine.
Purpose
Groove Korea provides English-speaking Koreans as well as Seoul-based ex-pats insights on dining, travel, community, music, arts, and local events. Our audience uses Groove as a resource to find new restaurants and cafes, be inspired to travel to new destinations, read engaging interviews with artists and changemakers, and discover events happening in their neighbourhoods.
Results
I contributed several pieces (with photos) to the magazine over my nearly three years as a staff writer and photographer, and two of them were nominated for awards (Best Destinations Story of 2014 – "The Ghosts of Seoul" and Best Food Story of 2014 – "Home Brewers Lead the Push toward Better Beer"). One of my photographs was also selected for the front cover of the April 2016 issue (see image to the right).
My stories covered a wide range of topics, including my personal experience at a Shaolin kung-fu school in China; an in-depth analysis of the international development industry in Cambodia; and an interview with a Nepalese social enterprise that trains street youth to become trekking guides.
My work provided our readers with travel inspiration, astute analysis of global and local events, as well as insights on people and organizations that were working for positive change in their communities.
Cover image by Christine Pickering
Writing Samples
The ghosts of Seoul: Searching for spirits in a city with a long and gruesome history
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Home brewers lead the push toward better beer: Demand for craft brews sparks a mini-industry
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The NGO-ization of the Kingdom of Cambodia
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Taking initiative the Nepalese way: Ten days trekking in Annapurna
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From bagua to backflips: One month at a Shaolin kung fu school
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