About Anthony Payton
Award-Winning Journalist | Technical Advisor | Re-Entry Advocate | Media Consultant
The Intersection of Experience and Expertise
I didn't set out to become a voice in criminal justice media — I earned it through two decades of navigating the system from both sides.
As an award-winning journalist and Technical Advisor for film and television, I've built a career at the intersection of media, justice reform, and lived experience. I've reported for the Granite State News Collaborative and ManchesterInkLink, contributed as a faculty voice at the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication at Franklin Pierce University, and hosted Lock and Key: Both Sides of Prison — a podcast that examines incarceration from every angle, including the ones that make people uncomfortable.
I'm also a Drug War Survivor. That's not a footnote — it's the credential that no journalism school issues. It's why authors trust me to make their characters real, why producers bring me in to keep their scripts honest, and why organizations hire me to say the things their spokespeople can't.
This dual perspective — journalist and justice-impacted individual — makes me uniquely qualified to help authors, screenwriters, filmmakers, organizations, and media outlets tell these stories right.
What I Bring to Every Project
Professional Background:
— 15+ years in journalism, writing, podcasting, and media — Two-time First Place, Best Podcast — The Common Ground Initiative — First Place, Columnist of the Year — First Place, Best Journalism Project — Regular columnist, ManchesterInkLink — Contributor, Granite State News Collaborative — Host & Producer, Lock and Key: Both Sides of Prison (Apple Podcasts & Spotify) — Consulting credits include a USA Today Bestselling Author — TEDx Speaker
Who I Work With
Authors & Publishers Novelists writing formerly incarcerated characters who need them to sound authentic, not stereotypical. Memoirists sharing justice-related experiences who want to ensure accuracy. Publishers seeking sensitivity readers who understand the difference between county jail and state prison, between parole and probation, between redemption narratives and real life.
Screenwriters, Producers & Filmmakers Writers developing TV shows, films, or documentaries with prison storylines who need someone to catch the details that would make viewers roll their eyes. Producers seeking a Technical Advisor who can review scripts for procedural accuracy and character believability — from development through post-production.
Nonprofit Organizations & Advocacy Groups Re-entry programs needing strategic planning from someone who's navigated the system they serve. Advocacy groups seeking storytelling frameworks that move donors and funnel funding to effective programs. Organizations that understand the people they serve deserve better than well-meaning but uninformed help.
Media Outlets & Journalists Publications seeking expert commentary on criminal justice issues from someone who can bridge policy analysis and human impact. Podcasts looking for guests who can discuss re-entry, employment barriers, and justice reform with authority and nuance.
Beyond the Work
I'm a father, a New Hampshire resident, and someone who believes in the possibility of transformation — not as an abstract concept, but as a lived reality. I've seen what happens when people get real opportunities, not just second chances. I've witnessed how the right story, told at the right time, can shift someone's entire trajectory.
That's why I do this work. Not because I want to be the face of re-entry advocacy, but because I want to see a world where people like me don't have to be extraordinary to be treated as ordinary.
Every consultation, every article, every speaking engagement is a step toward that world.
Let's Work Together
Three doors. Find yours.
Door 1 — Media & Storytelling Columns, investigative features, podcast content, and thought leadership. → Explore My Portfolio
Door 2 — Consulting & Technical Advisor Script consultation, sensitivity reading, manuscript review, and on-set technical advising for film and television. → Book a Consultation
Door 3 — Speaking & Advocacy Keynotes and panel discussions for universities, conferences, and advocacy organizations. → Inquire About Speaking
Creative Collaboration
Podcast partnerships and sponsorships (Lock and Key Podcast)
Co-development of justice-focused content
Documentary consultation
Theater and screenplay projects
📧 Email me: Here
📅 Book a consultation: Schedule here
🎧 Listen to Lock and Key Podcast: Apple Spotify
View my TEDx Talk
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