The Butte College news production team had the chance to host Nevin Kallepalli, an up and coming journalist who’s articles have been published in The Nation.

Originally from Lubbock, Texas, Nevin chased his “dreams” early on in the arts industry before leaving due to what he described as a “toxic and corrupt environment.” During his time in the fashion and arts industries, Kallepalli had the chance to dabble in the practice of journalism, which he ultimately decided to pursue as a career.

His journalistic endeavors and interest in religious conflicts have taken him to border towns between India and Pakistan, where he has covered issues such as the communalization of India’s occupation of Kashmir and the rise of the Hindu right wing, as well as to the Middle East, where he has reported on the necropolitics of Israeli colonization in Palestine.

In today’s world of journalism, where it often seems that every reporter has an agenda to present in a more favorable light, Nevin is a breath of fresh air. His ability to set aside personal views when discussing controversial topics exemplifies the journalism code of ethics. The effort and lengths he goes to in order to understand groups often labeled as extremist are remarkable. Unfortunately, his attempts to make these groups’ perspectives more understandable to the public have sometimes led to him being labeled a sympathizer or an advocate for what some may call “terrorist” organizations.

When sharing his insight with the Roadrunner production team, Nevin emphasized the importance of truly understanding the mindset behind movements and political issues one may not personally align with. He further explained that a journalist’s role is not to write articles that promote a particular agenda, but to enlighten readers by presenting perspectives from opposing sides in an unbiased manner.

For more information about his work, see the Redding Scout and The Nation.