Octavio Jones
PhotojournalistI’m Octavio Jones, a frequent contributor to WUSF, and native of Washington D.C. I’ve also spent an extensive time of my life in North Carolina.
I am a proud HBCU graduate of Saint Augustine’s College (now Saint Augustine’s University) in Raleigh, North Carolina. I am an independent photojournalist who has worked assignments for several media outlets such as NPR, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Buzz Feed, HuffPost, CNN, People, ELLE Decor, The Washington Post, and The Rolling Stone.
Prior to going independent, I’ve worked for the Tampa Bay Times, formerly the St. Petersburg Times, for nearly 10 years. I have a passion for telling the stories of marginalized communities through photographs.
I also have an innate curiosity and drive for human connection that compels me to document the lives of individuals, frequently highlighting the challenges and effects of poverty.
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Demonstrators stood at 12 intersections in St. Petersburg, with more on roads in Sarasota and Wesley Chapel. Hundreds turned out in Lakeland. And a crowd took over the steps of Brooksville City Hall. -
Many in the Manatee County senior resort-style living community had experienced varying degrees of damage from the recent hurricanes, but they came together to reconnect and celebrate their resilience. -
We talked to residents of Aripeka and Hernando Beach who shared their experiences after Helene ripped through their communities and destroyed their homes. -
Despite persistent drizzle, thousands gathered for the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival. -
The changes could "repurpose" 12 schools, meaning students would need to shift to other facilities. -
In their words, they tell us how they're coping with the loss of family members, pressure to perform, and uncertainty about their futures. -
Dr. S. Kent Butler, a professor of counselor education at UCF, discusses where he said he discovered a need to help educate counselors in the profession about supporting Black males. -
About 500 people marched Friday afternoon around Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg. -
Dozens of protesters attended a rally in St. Petersburg on Tuesday as others were held in Sarasota and Lakeland. -
WUSF spoke about this historic moment with Florida State Representative Fentrice Driskell and Tampa attorney Suzanne Decopain.
