Founder and publisher of F Magazine, Teeka Ballas will discuss how she went from being a news hound to becoming a staunch advocate for culture and community at the stern of an arts publication. Although the magazine has a short history, it is a dynamic one and is currently making a tremendous impact on numerous communities and cultures around Alaska. Ballas will reveal some of the secrets behind running an independent, volunteer-driven publication and share the hard knocks she’s learned along the way.
Teeka Ballas first began working in journalism as a travel writer for a publication in Australia 15 years ago. Since then she has traveled extensively and worked in numerous countries and U.S. states, covering everything from hostile environments to travel and leisure for radio, print and web. In addition to working full time on F Magazine, Ballas currently hosts a show on Alaska Public Radio, teaches writing workshops and classes to youth and is a contributing writer to numerous publications both regionally and nationally, covering travel, entertainment, medicine and engineering.