full

Voices Crying From the Wilderness: Reports From War-Torn Locales that DON'T Serve the Agenda of the Mainstream Media feat. Hollie McKay

Published on: 7th January, 2025

We welcome to the show independent journalist Hollie McKay.

In this interview, Hollie discusses her diverse career, starting from her beginnings in the U.S. after studying in New York, to her time at Fox News, and her eventual shift to independent journalism after becoming disillusioned with the “clickbait factory” her work environment had become (her words ha ha).

Hollie shares her experiences reporting from global hotspots such as Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Sudan, emphasizing the challenges and importance of covering peoples around the world that otherwise are not given the time of day by the Gatekeepers of Polite Society aka “mainstream” media.

Together we explore the hardships of journalism, the need for a conscientious approach to journalism (or whatever work we are engaged in,) and the essential need for authentic, on-the-ground reporting on matters that affect the quality of life in the world’s most neglected regions.

Hollie also highlights the impact of her work on her personal life and the valuable lessons she's aiming to pass on to her 14-month old daughter.

We oftentimes ask ourselves, “What can I do?” when we hear of suffering around the world.

Supporting Hollie’s work is a great way to help people who are truly in need.

Hollie is a person who genuinely desires to improve the world through her work, and has shown tremendous Vojdaan, not to mention personal sacrifice, with her career choices.

Subscribe to Hollie’s free newsletter, and also consider supporting her work financially. This enables people who otherwise fall through the cracks from mainstream news reporting to get the attention they deserve, even if it’s a tiny fraction of the population.

A little Vojdaan goes a long way!

Episode highlights:

00:39 Hollie's Background and Career Beginnings

02:42 The Evolution of Digital Journalism

05:19 Hollie's Unexpected Path to Journalism

09:26 The Universal Language of Music and Soccer

14:29 Challenges in Mainstream Media

19:17 Transition to Independent Journalism

20:57 Experiencing the Fall of Kabul

22:33 Challenges of Freelance Journalism

25:10 Building a Niche in Journalism

31:28 The Reality of War-Torn Regions

37:33 Human Resilience Amidst Hardship

41:16 Supporting Independent Journalism

44:12 Parenting and Professional Life

46:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources Mentioned:

Dispatches with Hollie McKay

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.jamesdnewcomb.com/subscribe

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode
Show artwork for Ba Vojdaan با وجدان

About the Podcast

Ba Vojdaan با وجدان
Conscious Living...In a Zonked-Out World.
با وجدان (transliterated to Ba Vojdaan) is a Persian word which translates to English as "Conscientious".

I don't know about you, but I'm alarmed by the lack of conviction and integrity in our culture. People are on "autopilot" morally and spiritually. Whatever the talking heads on the boob tube tell us to think, that's what we think.

You could perhaps argue this has always been a problem since the dawn of time, but it just seems more pronounced in recent years.

And no one notices.

And those who do notice...they seem to either not care, or have given up trying to make a difference.

Plus there was no "boob tube" until about 1950, so there's that.

This podcast is one man's response to this pandemic of moral laziness and apathy.

Carry yourself with "Vojdaan" and you'll instantly set yourself apart from the zombies inhabiting our land.

This podcast will show you how to do it, and allow you to interact with others who think the same way.

So subscribe to the podcast and reclaim your sanity with daily interviews featuring folks who refuse to march in step with the rhythm of the world that is driving us into despair and chaos.

Follow this show at Vojdaan.com

https://www.jamesdnewcomb.com?utm_medium=podcast">www.jamesdnewcomb.com

About your host

Profile picture for James Newcomb

James Newcomb