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Hanson Hosein is an award-winning digital filmmaker and television journalist.  Throughout his career, he has sought out the technological changes that are now upending traditional media—from being one of the first contributors to a nascent MSNBC.com, to pioneering digital content creation as a globe-trotting solo broadcaster. As an educator in digital media and communications, he is primarily focused on social media, storytelling, and the proliferation of technology among children and in developing countries.

He conceived and directed the film “Independent America: The Two-Lane Search for Mom & Pop” which has been seen around the world, thanks to his innovative grassroots marketing campaign and blog (www.independentamerica.net).  Self-produced and self-financed, the award-winning documentary has also been featured by Yahoo!, BusinessWeek, Variety, ABC News, National Public Radio, NHK Japan, SBS Australia and the Sundance Channel. The sequel, "Independent America: Rising from Ruins" is currently in production. Read a University of Washington "The Daily" profile of Hanson's film work, "The Search for Mom & Pop."

In the last few years, Hanson has shot and edited groundbreaking films for the American government in southern Africa, for TurnHere.com and Discovery Channel Mobile in Latin America, and for aid organizations such as PATH and Mercy Corps.

In 2004, he coordinated NBC Nightly News’ coverage of the U.S.  handover of power to the new Iraqi government and was embedded with the First Cavalry Division. He also reported live from Baghdad for Canada’s Global News National and CBC Newsworld.

In 2003, Hanson served as an NBC correspondent and solo journalist during the war in Iraq.  Armed with a laptop, satellite phone and camcorder, he filed ongoing Persian Gulf coverage live from the deck of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln.  He then covered the aftermath of the war from Beirut, Damascus, Amman and Jerusalem.

Hanson won an Emmy for his NBC Nightly News coverage “The Fall of Kosovo” as well as an Overseas Press Club Award. He was NBC News’ Middle East Producer and MSNBC.com correspondent, based in Tel Aviv from 1997 to 2001.  

Among other stories, he covered the Palestinian uprising, as well as the 1999 Turkey earthquake, the death of King Hussein of Jordan, and Al-Qaeda’s bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. Prior to that, he was a producer for “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw” for three years in New York City.  He has also worked as a TV correspondent and backpack journalist for CBC News.

Hanson has an M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.  He has law degrees (LL.B., B.C.L. and M. en droit) from McGill University and the University of Paris,  and retains his membership in the New York Bar.  And he continues to practice what he teaches through his own production and communications company, HRH Media (www.hrhmedia.com).