BEHIND THE LENS

Mikala Compton is a nationally recognized visual journalist at the Austin American-Statesman. Prior to Austin, Mikala was based in New Braunfels, Texas as the chief photographer of the Herald-Zeitung 2018-2021 and a 2017-2018 staff photographer at the Jefferson City News Tribune in Missouri. Mikala has received numerous awards, including the 2017 Yunghi Grant Competition for her project on a pagan community in Mid-Missouri. She was named Photographer of the Year in her category by Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Association in 2018, 2019 and 2020.  

Originally from Kansas City, Mikala graduated from the photojournalism program at the University of Missouri in May 2017. She has experience in photojournalism, videography, audio and visual editing and has been published with Reuters, Al Jazeera English, Religion News Service, and The Texas Tribune.

Mikala’s previous positions include: photographer for the University of Missouri 2013-17; 2017 staff photographer at the Jefferson City News Tribune; 2017 lead photographer for Student Affairs at the University of Missouri; videographer for Mizzou Student and Auxiliary Services; spring 2016 staff photographer for The Columbia Missourian; spring 2017 photo editor for The Columbia Missourian; and reporter at KOMU8, the NBC affiliate in Columbia; KBIA Public Radio, the NPR affiliate in Columbia.

Mikala's passion for journalism stems from wanting to learn about humanity and what drives other people. She strives to make meaningful, storytelling images and thinks that the more we learn about each other the more we can grow to understand each other. 

Phone: 913-558-9845

Email: mikala.compton160@gmail.com