Joel Hawksley

Joel Hawksley
@hawksleyphoto

Hometown: Kent, Ohio

College, major: Ohio University, visual communication/photojournalism

Why journalism? I love the ability a picture has to tell a story in ways words can not, and how I get to serve as the eyes of our readership every day.

Years in journalism: Just under one year professionally (since graduating from Ohio University in June 2012), but I worked at  The Post, Ohio University’s student newspaper.

Years at The Roanoke Times | roanoke.com: This is my second week on the job.

Other newsrooms where you have worked: I worked as a staff photographer and picture editor at The Post while at Ohio and spent several years working as the chief photographer for the school’s athletic department. After graduation, I worked at The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale, Ill., until accepting the position here in Roanoke.

Proudest journalism accomplishments: I am really proud of the work I did writing and photographing a story on a nonprofit organization that trains service dogs for veterans with PTSD. I really enjoyed being able to take the time to cover an in-depth story that showed how the community was working to support the needs of veterans in a new and innovative way.

Journalists you admire and why: I regularly look at the work of photojournalists Doug Mills (New York Times), Ross Taylor (The Virginian-Pilot), and Dave Weatherwax (Jasper Herald). Their work inspires and motivates me to improve my skills as both a photographer and journalist.

Websites you visit regularly: I use my Twitter feed as my main news source and save longer stories to Pocket to read when I have time throughout the day. I also follow Jim Romensko’s blog and the Poynter news feed.

Favorite books: Freakonomics and Nate Silver’s The Signal and the Noise

Interests outside of work: I enjoy playing tennis and biking around town. I also spend time working on various web projects, including a portfolio platform I use to build sites for fellow photographers.

Interesting fact about you that few know: I’ve been hit by a car twice, on the same road. I was not seriously injured either time.