Andrew Jankowski

About

Andrew D. Jankowski (he/his, they/their) is a freelance journalist covering news, arts & culture, and LGBTQ+ stories in Portland, Oregon. Jankowski is best known as a member of the Portland Press Corps, a team of freelance and staff journalists who extensively covered the historic civil uprising in Portland during the summer of 2020. Jankowski was assaulted and arrested on July 16, 2020 by members of the Portland Police Bureau and Gresham Police Department, in violation of a restraining order barring law enforcement from interfering with the work of journalists. The arrest made international news, and Jankowski's essay for Portland Mercury helped readers, especially those with no prior experience with the carceral system, understand the perspectives of those whose civil rights were repeatedly violated by law enforcement and federal agents. Jankowski's colleagues recognized how he maintained professional composure during one of the most high-stress, high-pressure situations one could ever find themselves facing, and how he adhered to the ethical standards held by the Society of Professional Journalists throughout his coverage. Beyond journalism, Jankowski has extensive experience as a freelance writer with marketing, SEO, and social media management in boutique agency settings. Jankowski graduated from Portland State University, but took an unconventional, self-directed career path during and after the Great Recession that covered multi-industry administrative assistance and customer service, as well as marketing and social media management for a real-life circus troupe. In college, Jankowski's titles included Online & Social Media Editor of the Portland State Vanguard, where he helped organize the first LGBTQ+ Pride issue in the newspaper's 70+ year history; as well as curator of the Littman + White Galleries, the only entirely student-run contemporary art galleries in the United States. Jankowski's hobbies include gardening, creating art, and spending time with family and friends.