Ford Fischer, a Masconomet alumnus, has made remarkable contributions to the world of independent media, establishing himself as a documentary filmmaker and a leading voice in primary source journalism.
Starting in middle school with only a video camera and an iMac, Fischer spent his summer making home movies with his classmates. This sparked an interest in him, something that would later on become his lifelong passion.
At fourteen years old, he began doing more professional video work for the Boxford Cable Access TV (BCATV), giving him hands-on experience in film before even entering high school. Taking advantage of the opportunities Masco had to offer, Fischer also immersed himself in the classes and extracurriculars that further fueled his ambitions. On his own, he participated in a film festival twice, showcasing his growing talent and passion through a short film set within Masco’s walls. This festival helped to solidify his desire to pursue filmmaking as a career and laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in the industry.
“At Masco, it was mostly electives and extracurricular activities that enabled me to continue with this path,” he said. “While BCATV was primarily what I’d now call primary source journalism, unedited footage of government meetings and sports, I was able to make some more creative visual projects in Mass Media classes as well as Computer Science, which I did as a four-year track.”
After graduating high school in 2012, Fischer went on to major in Film and Media Arts at American University with a double minor in Business Administration and Computer Science. This well-rounded approach provided him with a unique viewpoint on both the creative and technical aspects of journalism, equipping him with skills that extended beyond filmmaking to practical tasks, like managing finances and taxes. It was here in college that he co-founded News2Share alongside Trey Yingst in 2014.
News2Share is an online media outlet where Fischer and Yingst focus on documenting raw footage of political activism and other controversial events, offering audiences unedited, primary source material. His work has been featured in major news outlets and documentaries, with some of his footage even making its way into Emmy-nominated projects.
“A proud moment for me was that I actually served as a Consulting Producer–I contributed footage, guided the team, and appeared in the film–on American Insurrection, a Frontline episode that attempted to tackle the period of time surrounding January 6. While we didn’t ultimately win, our team was nominated for two Emmys, which felt like an incredible vindication of my efforts in independent journalism,” said Fischer.
Despite his considerable success, Fischer’s work in journalism hasn’t been without its challenges. While the rise of social media has brought many opportunities, platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and X have also introduced hurdles in the form of content moderation policies.
“In 2019, my YouTube channel was demonetized because of my documentation of events that would be considered hate speech. It took 7 months of advocacy for them to fix this, and in 2021, YouTube did the same to me for publishing raw footage of January 6,” he said. “In both cases, and there are many more than those two examples, those problems were overcome by relentlessly speaking out against the social media giants and especially gaining mainstream news coverage of them.”
Fischer remains committed to preserving primary source journalism, even with these setbacks. His raw, unedited footage serves to record political movements, protests, and government actions, allowing audiences to interpret events without the filter of mainstream media.
“The big difference between my footage and most others that you’d see in the news or documentaries is that mine is available to the public in raw form. So my hope is that by creating a library of historical raw footage, audiences who see my work in news and documentaries can then use that as a resource to get the complete context devoid of the alterations/biases inherent in any media that would draw from it,” said Fischer.
Beyond his filmmaking and reporting, Fischer has become a vocal advocate for press freedom and transparency. Through his experiences traveling across the United States and meeting new people, he has gained a nuanced perspective on political discourse. Fischer believes that mainstream media often simplifies complex issues, framing them as binary issues, such as “left versus right,” “red versus blue” or “us versus them.” However, his direct engagement with individuals across the political spectrum has shown him the depth and variety of personal beliefs.
“My work has really enabled me to witness the lifestyles and beliefs of all sorts of people, and while I may not always sympathize with the political conclusions people come to, I think I’ve really learned to empathize with people’s journeys to their beliefs,” Fischer said.
As a journalist, Fischer has observed an interesting phenomenon: because of his neutral stance, viewers often misinterpret his beliefs based on their own personal biases.
“As far as my own perspectives, I’ve tried to keep my own political beliefs very separate from my work,” he said. “In general, I’ve found that people unhappy with my work for some reason or another usually have one of two criticisms: That I filmed their opponents’ side without criticizing them, or that I filmed their allies’ side doing something unfortunate… Right-wingers sometimes call me ‘Antifa press’ whereas left-wingers sometimes assume I’m right-wing media. Both claims are bologna.”
Beyond his career achievements, Fischer values the connections and friendships he has formed through journalism. Working as an independent journalist often means traveling extensively and covering high-stakes events, but the shared experiences among fellow journalists make these moments all the more meaningful.
“Some of the closest friendships in my life are formed through journalism,” said Fischer. “I’ve made a habit of trying to carpool with other freelance and independent journalists to events, both as a cost-saving measure but also to foment a natural ‘buddy system’ on the field, so I rarely find myself at any such event without fellow press I know I can count on. Many fellow independent journalists/freelancers have become my close friends over several years of these adventures.”
Fischer credits both Masconomet and American University for helping to shape his journey. His high school media and computer science classes provided him with a strong foundation in storytelling, while AU’s disciplinary approach helped him blend film, business, and technology– skills he now applies daily at News2Share.
“A lesson I learned both at Masco and American University is the importance of practicing your craft outside of what the school offers. When you’ve found the passion you want to pursue, don’t limit yourself to the offerings of the institutions around you. Make your own,” Fischer said.
Ford Fischer’s journey from a Masco student making home movies to an award-nominated journalist exhibits his unwavering commitment to storytelling and authenticity. Through perseverance and dedication, he continues to redefine what it means to be an independent journalist in today’s media, valuing the power of raw, unedited footage to inform his audiences.
