Freelancing journalist who tell local story

Journalism does not has to be with mainstream media but can be utilized to tell local stories.

Ms. Hlee Lee turns her journalism into freelance business Source: Courtesy of Hlee Lee

Hlee Lee said that after her graduation of Journalism and has been working for some time, she realized that she wants to do documentary therefore, she quit her TV broadcasting job to start her own freelance journalist business to work in partnership with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), so she can tell local stories which mainstream media tend to forget.

She has to learn everything from Adobe Photoshop, photography, to many software, film editing, video editing in order to tell a story whether they are through video, film documentary or photograph. Besides she has to do her paper work as well. But Ms. Lee is very fortunate to have her husband who is also a videographer who helps her a lot.

She said that it is a very demanding job apart from she has to attend the function, events do all the shooting, video or filming and interviewing people, when she came back home, she still need to do video editing as well. So if you cannot handle all these and don't have the passion for, better doing other profession. That's why a lot of Hmong youth who attend her free tutor class tend to study for hobbies.

"Being Hmong girls or Hmong women, they were under a lot of pressure to do well either study or prepare themselves to be a good daughter-in-law when they are ready to marry and having kids, but that is no the case for her. She doesn't want kids but want to pursue her dreams," said Ms. Hlee Lee.

Hlee Lee, a photographer-Coutesy of Hlee Lee Source: Courtesy of Hlee Lee

She said that Hmong community expect girls to have a regular job, which she sees it differently, as her job is on and off as a contractor or ongoing project with local communities or organizations. Ms Lee said that she don't want to get married and having kids, but pursue her dream by having no kids. And when she finally set up her own business, and more people know her and her business, then her parent think differently to previously thought, which they fight over it a lot.

Ms. Lee said that she is very curious to learn and having an open minds to different ideas and very lucky to have lots of mentors that teach her or share knowledge with her.

"knowing your worth" and fulfil your fullest potential, do what you love to do, even your parents or other oppose it." siad Hlee Lee, is one of the most important thing she want to share with Hmong girls and Hmong women.

Film making-Courtesy of Hlee Lee Source: Courtesy of Hlee Lee

The reasons she wants to set up her own business is so she can tell marginalized community story. She wants the community to tell their own stories not outsiders. 

One very important aspects Ms. Hlee Lee has mentioned is that, she wants to know if Hmong girls in other western countries and back in homeland have the same opportunities to pursue their dreams as she has.#

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