Mark Jesser: A Lens on Justice and Community
We’ve followed Mark Jesser’s career as a photojournalist and courts reporter with admiration for his ability to humanize legal proceedings and environmental issues through evocative imagery and incisive reporting. Over a decade at The Border Mail, Jesser has become a trusted voice in regional Australian journalism, blending visual storytelling with rigorous investigative work.
Career Trajectory: From Local Beats to National Impact
Jesser’s career began in Albury-Wodonga, where he developed a reputation for capturing pivotal moments in courtrooms and rural communities. His work spans three key phases:
- Early Years (2015–2018): Documenting magistrate court proceedings and local sports events
- Environmental Focus (2019–2022): Investigating bushfire recovery and agricultural challenges
- Current Work (2023–present): Synthesizing legal expertise with photojournalism in complex EPA cases
Defining Works
- NSW EPA investigates Corowa bee deaths now linked to pesticide Jesser’s 2025 investigation into pesticide-related bee mortality showcased his multidisciplinary approach. Through FOI requests and aerial photography, he revealed the connection between agricultural practices and ecosystem collapse. The piece led to increased scrutiny of pesticide licensing and inspired community-led conservation initiatives.
- “The apiary’s security camera footage showed bees dropping mid-flight – tiny casualties in an invisible chemical war.”
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- Planned Burn This 2024 photo essay documented controlled burns in the Murray River region, balancing ecological necessity with community anxiety. Jesser spent 72 hours with firefighters, capturing the dichotomy of destruction and renewal. The work has been used in wildfire preparedness workshops across Victoria.
- WorkSafe's Footy's Favourite Farmer 2024 Blending rural culture with workplace safety, this series profiled agricultural innovators implementing injury prevention measures. Jesser’s portraits of farmers with their safety-modified equipment became talking points in industrial policy debates.
Pitching Insights
1. Environmental Law Intersections
Jesser prioritizes stories where legal actions impact ecosystems, as seen in his EPA coverage. A successful pitch might explore native title claims affecting water management or innovative pollution litigation strategies.
2. Agricultural Innovation Visual Stories
His Footy’s Favourite Farmer series demonstrates interest in tech-driven sustainability. Propose access to farmers testing drone-based pest control or blockchain-tracked supply chains.
3. Community-Centric Legal Outcomes
Highlight cases where court decisions directly affect regional populations, such as class actions addressing medical malpractice in rural hospitals or land use disputes resolving through restorative justice models.
Awards and Recognition
- 2024 Australian Regional Media Award for Environmental Reporting Recognized for his pesticide investigation’s impact on state policy reforms, beating entries from major metropolitan outlets. The judges praised Jesser’s “rare synthesis of forensic documentation and emotional resonance.”
- National Press Photographers Association Feature Finalist His wildfire series was shortlisted for its technical excellence and narrative depth, marking the first time a regional Australian photographer reached this stage in a decade.
