Writing & Editorial, Selected Works
The Gospel According to PJ Morton
OFFBEAT
A cover profile of Grammy-winning musician PJ Morton, exploring his New Orleans gospel roots, artistic independence, and efforts to preserve jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden's historic home.
Resistance & Existence: Brandan “Bmike” Odums’ Truth-Telling Activism
An in-depth profile of New Orleans artist and activist Brandan “Bmike” Odums, exploring the intersection of public art, racial justice, and community empowerment. Through original interviews and cultural analysis, the feature traces Odums’ evolution from underground street artist to internationally recognized creative, examining how his work challenges dominant narratives, reclaims public spaces, and uses art as a vehicle for resistance and truth-telling.
A small collection of my work at Ambrosia for Heads, where I frequently covered social, political, and economic issues from a hip-hop perspective.
Digital Journalism, Selected Works
An exploration of how federal internet policy could reshape access to hip-hop, connecting the technical complexities of net neutrality to music streaming, corporate gatekeeping, and the history of censorship in popular culture.
An examination of Spotify's controversial decision to stop promoting R. Kelly's music, exploring the tensions between corporate accountability, artistic expression, censorship, and the responsibilities of digital platforms.
A look at Jay Z's Father's Day initiative to help incarcerated fathers afford bail, connecting celebrity philanthropy to systemic inequality, pretrial detention, and the human consequences of America's cash-bail system.
Connecting the legacy of Mobb Deep's Prodigy with a major development in sickle cell treatment, this feature makes complex medical research accessible while examining a disease that disproportionately affects Black communities.
An original, two-part investigation into allegations of deceptive music promotion targeting independent hip-hop artists. Through firsthand interviews, examination of social media communications, and research into consumer-protection law and streaming-platform policies, the series explores how verified celebrity accounts were allegedly used to solicit payments for questionable promotional opportunities.
Investigative Reporting | Medium | October 2020
Da Block 365: A Two-Part Investigation
Additional Works
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Click here to read a two-part investigative series on a scam in hip-hop.
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Click to watch my interview on the Elation Podcast
Academic Writing
Social Justice Nonprofits in the U.S. South: Cases for Study and Practice
Chapter 4, “Breaking News: Truth-Telling and Nonprofit Journalism in the Deep South”
Client Work (PR)
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Client Work (PR) ~
What People Are Saying
“Amanda works diligently & creatively for her clients. She has a dedication to elevating diverse styles of music not always associated with New Orleans. She has a keen ear for talent & is fully engaged in the music scene of our city.”
Gene Meneray, Co-founder of legal advocacy non-profit, Ella Project
"Amanda is incredibly organized & motivated. She is a gifted wordsmith & editor, & is a great motivator for her clients & their fans."
“Bassy” Bob Brockmann, GRAMMY-winning engineer. Collaborators include Cindy Lauper, The Fugees, The Notorious B.I.G.“Amanda is an innovative & caring multi-faceted creative I’ve been fortunate to work with in a lot of different capacities within the New Orleans music industry. In every position, she brings her care, professionalism, & top-notch attention to detail to the table.”
Nate Cameron, Jr., award-winning cultural advocate, Co-founder of Them People Productions and glbl wrmng
"In a landscape where media clicks are driven by empty metrics in the name of "the culture" it is refreshing to encounter a thinker like Amanda Mester. Mester is not only more than capable in the writing that is increasingly being divorced from cultural critique, but also equipped with a passionate dedication to being attentive to what serves the very culture she profiles."
Hip-hop artist Cavalier. @cavwins“Amanda is a talented writer and editor who brings professionalism and charisma to all her projects. More importantly, she’s a genuine fan and eternal student of the subject matter she covers.”
GRAMMY-Award winning musician and member of the GRAMMY-nominated band The Rumble, Ari Teitel.“Amanda is the person who if they say something will get it done, it gets done. Always felt confident in working with her in any regard because she’s right there every step of the way."
GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop artist Alfred Banks. @underdogcentral