I've got a unique combination of a background in geography combined with journalism and web development.

I started my journalistic career at The Daily Targum at Rutgers University, where I spent a year each as the paper's graphics editor, online editor and managing editor. In 2000, I graduated from Rutgers with a BA in geography with a cartography certificate, and a minor in communication.

After college, I worked for the Associated Press, where I bounced between the graphics and multimedia departments, making infographics and flash web packages. I led graphics coverage of data releases from the 2000 census, using scripts to build state by state graphics.

Five years ago, I moved to The Star-Ledger graphics department where built maps, and a GIS for the entire graphics department to build maps. For the last two years, I've been a one person web development shop within the Star-Ledger newsroom, where I worked on our websites: http://www.pharmalot.com, http://www.bracketboy.net, and http://www.tvjersey.com.

You can also view my portfolio at http://hassanhodges.com