Jessika Ming always has a digital camera in her purse. For years, she’s toted around a point-and-shoot, just to make sure she’d be able to capture group shots with friends or the occasional family party.  However, things changed last year.  During a restless night on vacation in Santa Fe, Jessika grabbed a camera, started snapping away, and didn’t stop for the rest of the trip.  While viewing the results, she realized that photography had become her “visual diary”… a way to tell stories of what she’s experienced and witnessed.

 Photos from the Santa Fe trip are among Jessika’s work in the Art of News II. Also included: a girl with an infectious spirit at the Princess Diana Memorial in London, a friend during a rare quiet spell at his Navy Seal Graduation, a young boy showing signs of genius, and her boyfriend playing Hawaiian slack key guitar.  Jessika gets the most response to her photo of the Bay Bridge as seen from Coit Tower.  Some call it a social commentary on wasteful spending in California, while others simply enjoy the perspective. Her luckiest moment captured so far, is in “Eye on the Ball,” featuring a dog competing in the “OC Flyball Winter Games.”

 Jessika is a Senior Producer at CBS2/KCAL9. Before coming to the Duopoly, she produced newscasts in Phoenix, where she also earned her Master’s degree from Arizona State University.  Jessika’s work has been honored with two regional Emmys, as well as Best Newscast awards from the Associated Press and LA Press Club. In her spare time, Jessika studies with Hula Halau Na Meakanu O Laka O Hawai’i.  She also holds National, Regional, and State titles in the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting. 

 Jessika would like to thank her parents for being incredible role models, and for recently surprising her with her first “real” camera.  She also would like to express gratitude to her photo mentors Bryan Frank, Dave Malkoff, Darron Young, and Colin Deadwood “Doc” Smith.