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 Writing from Columbia University, and when not abroad, splits
his time between Tahoe and San Francisco.
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 Writing from Columbia University, and when not abroad, splits
his time between Tahoe and San Francisco.
| On assignment in Portugal for the National Geographic Channel |
| San Francisco, 2007 |
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
