About
Nicholas Slayton is a contributing editor for Task & Purpose, covering conflict for over 12 years, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. His previous reporting can be found on the non-profit Aslan Media, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and the Los Angeles Downtown News. You can reach him at nicholas@taskandpurpose.com or find him on Twitter @NSlayton and Bluesky at @nslayton.bsky.social.
Experience
Slayton covered the events of the Arab Spring while working for the nonprofit Aslan Media. He has worked for The Atlantic, Al Jazeera and his writing has been featured in The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, and The Daily Beast. He was a reporter with Los Angeles Downtown News from 2015-2019 and then a co-editor of the newspaper from 2019-2020. He joined Task & Purpose in 2022.
Education
Slayton graduated from the University of Southern California in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in print & digital journalism.
Highlights
- Expertise in conflicts and inequality around the world.
- Lead shipwreck and UAP reporter.
- Absolute rabid history fan, particularly of absurd military screw ups.
- Cinema enthusiast.
Notable Works
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Gorillas, Guns, and Oil: A Journey Inside Virunga National Park
The Atlantic
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With Its Final, Harrowing Season, ‘The Expanse’ Sticks the Landing
The Daily Beast
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How Los Angeles Voters Delivered a Referendum on Economic Inequality
The New Republic
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Will Los Angeles’s Toxic Politics Fail the Homeless Again?
The New Republic
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‘How to Blow Up a Pipeline’ and the Case for Radical, Direct Action on Climate
The American Prospect
Words of wisdom
“The future is unwritten.” – Joe Strummer.
