Alva French – Journalist & Filmmaker

An incomplete list of some of my favorite stories I have worked on over the years.
Updated February 2020

Here’s a video I produced, narrated, and edited recently as a staff video producer at Reuters on the ownership of Europe’s leading soccer clubs. Posted to Twitter on January 29, 2020.

I pitched, produced, edited and voiced this explainer as a staff video producer at Reuters on Prince Harry and Meghan’s decision to step back from the British royal family. Published on Twitter on January 10, 2020.

What Are the Chances of Goldman or Blackstone Buying BlackRock? – Reuters Breakingviews 2020 Predictions
Published on Reuters.com on 12/24/2019
I directed and edited this video as a staff video producer at Reuters.

Reuters Breakingviews Europe columnist Chris Thompson with his 2020 prediction of the global car market. #BMW #Daimler
I produced and edited this video as a staff video producer at Reuters.
Published on Reuters.com on December 19, 2019

“In less than a year, six students who had attended Herriman High School in Utah committed suicide. The WSJ visited Herriman and found a community searching for answers as they struggle with the loss.” Published in April 2019
I narrated this video edited by the WSJ.com Originals video unit, while working as a freelance video producer at the Journal in Spring 2019.

**MADOFF: The Fraud of the Century**
Directed by Mélanie Dalsace for Paris-based CPB Films
*I worked as a bilingual fixer in New York City in 2018 for this TV documentary broadcast on French Television.*

I’m Running To Be America’s First Black Woman Governor
BuzzFeed News — Published May 2018
I pitched, produced, shot this as a one-person band on location in Savannah, Georgia. Then I edited this profile as a full-time video producer at BuzzFeed News, published as part of BuzzFeed News’ ongoing political coverage of the 2018 Georgia Governor’s race.

Chicago Teens Join Parkland To Fight Gun Violence
These teenagers fighting gun violence in Chicago say the country has reacted very differently to their activism efforts than it has to the Parkland students’ efforts. So the two groups are teaming up to call for gun control.
I pitched this video, then filmed it as a one-person band on location in Chicago, later scripted, and edited the video published on BuzzFeed News’ online platforms in March 2018

Women In Iran Are Protesting Against Wearing Headscarves
Women in Iran are removing their headscarves in open defiance of a government rule that requires them to be veiled in public.
I produced and edited this news video as a full-time video producer at BuzzFeed News in February 2018.

Father Lunges at Larry Nassar in Court
Randall Margraves charged at former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar after two of his daughters delivered victim impact statements.
I produced and edited this video as a full-time video producer for BuzzFeed News, published February 2, 2018.

Erica Garner — activist and daughter of Eric Garner, who died from a police chokehold — has died at 27 after a heart attack pic.twitter.com/hRpHJIuh8l
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) December 30, 2017

I produced and edited this video obituary of activist Erica Garner in December 2017, as a full-time video producer at BuzzFeed News. The video was published as part of BuzzFeed’s ongoing news coverage of Black Lives Matter and racial justice issues.

America’s student loan crisis hits the working poor especially hard (Reuters.tv)
Lakisha Johnson is a homeless single mother in Philadelphia. She was hoping to move out of a homeless shelter and into a new apartment with her daughter using her tax refund. The U.S. Department of education had other plans, as a Reuters review found the federal agency is clamping down on borrowers who have defaulted on their student loans by garnishing their wages, holding back IRS refunds, and reducing Social Security benefits.
July 25, 2017
I field produced this video on location in Philadelphia, and later collaborated with the text reporter to script her narration based on her special report on student loans. I edited this video to accompany that special report.

Louisiana pipeline pits bayous vs. pipelines
Jody Meche and his fellow crawfishermen are joining forces with environmentalists to protect southern Louisiana wetlands from the Bayou Bridge pipeline expansion, set to begin crude oil delivery later this year. Alva French Reports. Published February 22, 2017
I scripted, narrated and edited this video report for Reuters.

Published June 8, 2017
Bars open early for Comey’s Senate testimony
Bars across the US opened early so that folks could watch Former FBI director James Comey’s long anticipated Senate testimony about possible interference by Russia in the 2016 presidential election. I pitched, narrated, filmed the NYC scenes and interviews, as well as edited this breaking news piece for Reuters.

LES ROUTES DE L’ESCLAVAGE (Slavery Routes) Documentary mini-series produced by Paris-based CPB Films, broadcast on ARTE France in May 2018
I worked as a bilingual field producer and location scout on this documentary in NYC for CPB Films.

**L’immigration, un problème économique? (Immigration, an Economic Problem?)**
I worked as a bilingual field producer on this segment on the Senegalese community in New York City for director Caroline Pochon and Paris-based Les Films d’Ici. The segment was broadcast on the news magazine “Déchiffrage” (“Decoding”) for ARTE France in 2015.

**Bill Clinton’s Meet the Press Interview**
The 42nd president talks wealth and politics, foreign policy and marijuana legalization.
June 29, 2014 *I pre-produced and co-field produced this segment in Denver as part of coverage of the CGI America conference as a staff producer at NBC’s Meet The Press.*

**PRESS Pass: Anita Hill: “Incredibly flawed” Process put Clarence Thomas on the Court**
Professor Anita Hill on the documentary about the Supreme Court confirmation hearings that made her famous. July 10, 2014 *I produced this segment as a producer at NBC’s Meet The Press.*

**Boston Strong: The Marathon Bombing One Year Later**
David Gregory’s full discussion in Boston, MA with a special roundtable and a group of first responders on the impact of the bombing and how the city is recovering as we approach the one year anniversary. April 13, 2014 *I pre-produced, booked, and field produced this segment on location in Boston as a producer of NBC’s Meet The Press.*

**Maya Angelou remembers Nelson Mandela**
NBC News correspondent Harry Smith talks with author Maya Angelou about her friendship with Nelson Mandela. December 8, 2013 *I booked and co-produced this segment as producer on NBC’s Meet The Press in the wake of Nelson Mandela’s death.*

**Bombing survivor climbs Vienna hill**
A survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing who lost her left leg climbs a large hill in Europe to symbolize her struggle. Dec. 1, 2013 *I co-produced this segment as a producer on NBC’s Meet The Press. *

Last Tag Looms for 5Pointz
Published by the NYC News Service at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism May 18, 2011. I filmed and edited this video as a graduate student at CUNY J-school.