Learning from the Best: Besa’s Inspiring Lunch with Jesse Jones and Essex Porter
Jesse Jones on the far left, Besa Gordon to his right, Alicia Crank, and Essex Porter to the far left.
Photo: Susan Fried
By Besa Gordon - Y’all, I gotta share this moment with you! Early December, I had the opportunity to sit down with two media legends—Jesse Jones and Essex Porter—and let me tell you, it was next level. If you don’t know them, Jesse is the investigative reporter who’s been holding people accountable for YEARS with his ‘Get Jesse’ segments, helping people resolve issues and navigate scams. This man is a straight-up consumer advocate hero! He's won a slew of awards for his investigative work, including multiple Emmys and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award.
And Essex? He spent nearly 40 years at KIRO 7, covering politics and interviewing every Washington governor since Dixy Lee Ray. Talk about a witness to history! Essex has this incredible ability to break down complex political issues and make them understandable for everyone. His insightful reporting earned him a National Press Club Award and cemented his place as a trusted voice in Northwest journalism.
Before we sat down for lunch at Ben Paris, we had to snap a quick pic in front of the iconic Door Knob Art Wall inside The State Hotel. Fun fact: it’s made from doorknobs salvaged from the building’s past life as a medical/dental building.
During our lunch, we talked not just about media, but about how we can use our platforms to make a real impact in the community. We dove into the responsibility that comes with having a voice and how we can amplify the voices that don’t always get heard.
As I reflect on my own journey, I’m at a point where I’m more hungry than ever to tell stories that matter, make a bigger impact, and uplift our people in ways I’ve never done before. Sitting down with Jesse and Essex—two of the best to ever do it—left me fired up and ready to hit the new year running.
My biggest takeaway is a reminder never to stop reaching out to those who’ve made the impact you want to make. The advice you get today could take you even further tomorrow.
So here’s to telling better stories and making a bigger difference in 2025! Big shoutout to my Sis Alicia Crank for connecting the dots and making this a day I will always remember.
Photos by Susan Fried
