Meet the Fellows: Matias J. Ocner

July 7, 2015 News21 Fellow

Matias J. Ocner photographs marijuana plants at a caregiver’s home in Oahu. (Photo by Rilwan Balogun/News21)

NAME: Matias J. Ocner, Knight Foundation Fellow

SCHOOL: Florida International University, senior

BEFORE NEWS21: My first steps into the world of journalism took place at Miami-Dade Community College where I wrote small stories for the school newspaper, the Reporter. After obtaining my associate’s degree in arts, I transferred to Florida International University. I majored in journalism with a concentration in photography. I joined the South Florida News Service and published local stories and pictures in the Miami Herald. I also worked as an intern at the Miami Herald.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON: I am looking into the agricultural side of cannabis, specifically how growers affect water, electricity and soil. I’m also working on an examination of the marijuana culture across the country and how we’ve gotten to where we are.

FUN FACT: I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and I have excellent barbequing skills.

CONNECT WITH ME: @matiasocner on Twitter and Instagram. You can see more of my work on my website at www.matiasocner.com.