Biography
American-Hungarian Zoltan Istvan started Istvan Media as an independent one-person journalism
enterprise. He offers videography, production, editing, writing, photography, consultation and
interviews.
Born in Los Angeles in 1973, Zoltan began sailing alone around the world at the age of 21--his
main cargo being 500 carefully chosen books he wanted to read. After visiting 70 countries on
his sailboat The Way, he pursued journalism. He's written for the New York Times Syndicate,
National Geographic.com, Cruising World, San Francisco Chronicle, Sail and Outside.
In his late 20s he began working with the National Geographic Channel--filming, writing, narrating
and producing television news segments and webcasts, and publishing online articles about
adventure, science, human rights, wildlife and environmental issues from places such as
Vanuatu, Argentina, Peru, Cambodia, Portugal, Vietnam, Germany, Brazil, Pakistan, Bolivia,
Uruguay, Greece, India, Paraguay, Spain, Chile and the United States.
His TV stories have also appeared on the Travel Channel, Animal Planet, the Hungarian National
Television Channel, AOL Broadband, and the Associated Press Television Network, as well as
NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and WB via the nationally syndicated show: Animal Rescue TV.
His award-winning feature length documentary: Pawns of Paradise: Inside the Brutal
Kashmir Conflict is currently showing in various film festivals around the world. Lightworks
Enterprises, Inc. has signed on to the sale and distribution of the show.
In addition to journalism, Zoltan was a director at the international conservation group WildAid;
has logged over 400 dives as an archaeological diver for Guam's renowned underwater
treasure hunt: The Pilar Project; started and sold a successful business in real estate; and now
selectively invests in enterprises and properties worldwide. He holds a degree in Philosophy and
Religion from Columbia University, and when not abroad, splits his time between Tahoe and San
Francisco.
enterprise. He offers videography, production, editing, writing, photography, consultation and
interviews.
Born in Los Angeles in 1973, Zoltan began sailing alone around the world at the age of 21--his
main cargo being 500 carefully chosen books he wanted to read. After visiting 70 countries on
his sailboat The Way, he pursued journalism. He's written for the New York Times Syndicate,
National Geographic.com, Cruising World, San Francisco Chronicle, Sail and Outside.
In his late 20s he began working with the National Geographic Channel--filming, writing, narrating
and producing television news segments and webcasts, and publishing online articles about
adventure, science, human rights, wildlife and environmental issues from places such as
Vanuatu, Argentina, Peru, Cambodia, Portugal, Vietnam, Germany, Brazil, Pakistan, Bolivia,
Uruguay, Greece, India, Paraguay, Spain, Chile and the United States.
His TV stories have also appeared on the Travel Channel, Animal Planet, the Hungarian National
Television Channel, AOL Broadband, and the Associated Press Television Network, as well as
NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and WB via the nationally syndicated show: Animal Rescue TV.
His award-winning feature length documentary: Pawns of Paradise: Inside the Brutal
Kashmir Conflict is currently showing in various film festivals around the world. Lightworks
Enterprises, Inc. has signed on to the sale and distribution of the show.
In addition to journalism, Zoltan was a director at the international conservation group WildAid;
has logged over 400 dives as an archaeological diver for Guam's renowned underwater
treasure hunt: The Pilar Project; started and sold a successful business in real estate; and now
selectively invests in enterprises and properties worldwide. He holds a degree in Philosophy and
Religion from Columbia University, and when not abroad, splits his time between Tahoe and San
Francisco.
Zoltan Istvan is among the correspondents I value most for his photojournalistic
skills, resourcefulness, courage and almost uncanny ability to unearth great
stories on different continents.
John Stickney, Senior Editor, New York Times Syndicate
skills, resourcefulness, courage and almost uncanny ability to unearth great
stories on different continents.
John Stickney, Senior Editor, New York Times Syndicate
