ANTHONY PAYTON MEDIA
Criminal Justice Subject Matter Expert
Journalist. Authenticity Reader. Technical Advisor. Speaker.
I help authors, filmmakers, journalists, and organizations get criminal justice stories right.
Work With Me - Book a Consultation
1. What I Do
I bring lived experience, professional journalism, and criminal justice subject matter expertise to projects that need an informed, authentic perspective.
Authenticity Reading
I review books and creative projects involving incarceration and re-entry, with a focus on whether justice-impacted characters and their experiences ring true.
Subject Matter Expertise & Technical Advising
I help authors, screenwriters, filmmakers, and production teams navigate criminal justice realities, institutional details, terminology, and lived experience.
Journalism & Media
I write about criminal justice, re-entry, second chances, and the people behind the headlines. I also offer subject matter expertise for relevant media coverage and interviews.
Speaking
As a re-entry advocate, I speak with universities, correctional institutions, organizations, and community audiences about incarceration, re-entry, resilience, and second chances.
2. Selected Work: Authenticity Reading
FEATURED PROJECT
Tell Two Friends
Ann Garvin, USA Today bestselling author
I served as an authenticity reader for Tell Two Friends, reviewing the portrayal of an incarcerated/formerly incarcerated character to help ensure the character's experiences and representation rang true.
Drawing on my lived experience and criminal justice subject matter expertise, I helped assess the authenticity of this character's portrayal.
View the book on Ann Garvin's official website
Interested in authenticity reading for your own book or creative project?
Let's talk about your project.
3. Why My Perspective Is Different
I've experienced the criminal justice system from the inside and spent years using journalism, education, and community engagement to help others better understand its impact.
That perspective informs my work with authors, filmmakers, journalists, and organizations. I bring firsthand understanding to the details that can make the difference between a portrayal that merely looks convincing and one that feels authentic.
My work is grounded in three principles: truth, connection, and solutions.
4. Journalism, Experience & Recognition
Award-Winning Journalist
Contributor to ManchesterInkLink and the Granite State News Collaborative, among other media work.
Criminal Justice Subject Matter Expert
Lived experience and professional work informing authentic portrayals of incarceration and re-entry.
Speaker & Community Contributor
TEDx speaker and participant in media, community, and criminal justice initiatives.
View journalism, projects & recognition
5. Speaking
Real experiences. Honest conversations. New perspectives.
I speak about criminal justice, incarceration, re-entry, resilience, and second chances. My goal is to encourage thoughtful conversations and help audiences better understand the people behind the system.
6. Also, Co-Founder of Lock and Key Productions
Lock and Key Productions
I'm also the co-founder of Lock and Key Productions, a media and education company developing projects focused on criminal justice, re-entry, and second chances.
Lock and Key's productions and educational initiatives are separate from my individual journalism, authenticity reading, and consulting services.
Visit Lock and Key Productions
7. Let's Talk About Your Project
Have a project or opportunity?
Whether you're an author developing a character, a filmmaker working on a production, a journalist seeking an expert perspective, or an organization planning an event, I'd welcome a conversation.
Authenticity Reading · Technical Advising · Journalism · Speaking
