Hiya everyone, this is Jovelle Tamayo, writing from Seattle, Wash.! I've been grateful to be a part of communities like Authority Collective, Diversify Photo, Women Photograph, Brown Girls Doc Mafia and AAJA. And did Ash tell you I'm now a member of Juntos Photo Coop? Over the weekend, I tuned in for a listening session on the future of visual journalism hosted by Jarrad Henderson. The workshop left me thinking about sustainability and momentum: how can we continue breaking down barriers for emerging visual journalists and building a better industry? What do we need from each other and our communities? Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions for future newsletters our way. - JT
1. NPPA notes.

  • Join us TONIGHT at 5:30 p.m. PT for this month's Twitter Spaces conversation. Listen to visual journalism students Jesus Arriaga (San Francisco State University), Alexandra Schallert (Western Kentucky University) and Matt McCabe (University of Missouri) talk about getting started in the industry and the obstacles they've faced. RSVP now.
  • The 2023 Best of Photojournalism contest judging will take place THIS WEEKEND. All results will be posted along with recordings of the judging process for each division. Thank you to Sony and UGA for sponsoring this premiere photojournalism event.

Weekly NPPA poll


  • Last week's poll remains open. What is the one book that should be required reading for all journalism majors? Why? We received many thoughtful responses, including this one: "Visual Thinking" by Temple Grandin, because it explains that "there are different ways of experiencing, thinking about and approaching the world. On a continuum, the poles are verbal thinkers and visual thinkers. Once you understand and fully grasp this difference, journalism changes completely."

Have a poll question for us? Please send it to social@nppa.org.

2. Advocacy.

  • The NPPA joins the Reporters Committee and 37 media organizations challenging restrictions that prevent the press and public from accessing non-confidential civil court records in Virginia.

Stay up to date with NPPA's Advocacy activities on our website.
3. Congrats to ...

  • ... the Authority Collective on releasing the first issue of its zine, Veer! Check it out!

  • ... Hannah Gonzalez of KOMO (Seattle, Wash) and freelancer Zach Ben-Amots, the first-ever recipients of The National Press Photographers Foundation's Hutchison/Wheeler Storytelling Awards.

  • ... All the winners of the 2023 White House News Photographer Association's "The Eyes of History" contest. Carol Guzy, this year's WHNPA photographer of the year, is a nine-time winner.

  • ... Gabrielle Lurie for winning her third consecutive Local Photographer of The Year Award from Pictures of the Year International. Lurie is the first newspaper photographer in the award's 80-year history to win three times in a row. POY judging runs through Feb. 28.
4. This past weekend, community members mourned the three students killed in the Michigan State University shooting (photos by Sarahbeth Maney and Eric Seals). Reporters at FOX17 tried a different way to gather student stories. Julie Dunmire tweeted: "We are not approaching students on campus today. If you want to take the mic we're at the rock. No questions. Just whatever you want to share.”

5. Heartbreaking coverage of the aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria from Danielle Villasana: "For single mothers like Gülbahar Bicer (picture no. 8), the help couldn't come fast enough. Currently living in a tent on the side of the road in İskenderun with her three sons and mother-in-law, who has cardiac issues, she eagerly awaits news of admission into a camp for internally displaced people. 'My children's psychology is broken,' she said"

6. The San Francisco Chronicle now has an in-house therapist for its journalists. Could other newsrooms follow suit? What resources can publications offer to freelancers covering traumatic events or struggling with burnout? "Vicarious trauma" can affect anyone, from war correspondents to interpreters to photo editors. "What's it like when your job involves wading through others' suffering?" asks Dhruti Shah.

7. ICYMI: Last week, New York Times contributors published an open letter criticizing the publication's coverage of transgender issues and trans youth. You can view (and sign, if you'd like) the letter here: https://nytletter.com/.

8. From PhotoShelter, an incredible (but far from comprehensive) list of 100+ Black Photographers You Should be Following on Social Media.
9. While most photographers cover surfing at Mavericks from a boat, Sachi Cunningham is in the water with her waterproof camera. In The New York Times: "A Big-Wave Photographer Faces Frigid Water, Sharks and Currents to Get the Shot," with photos by Christie Hemm Klok.  

10. Opportunities.


  • NPPA's News Video Workshop is March 12-17 in Norman, Okla. There are three enrollment levels: Shoot 'n Edit, Participant, and Student Participant. NPPA members receive an additional discount. Visit the workshop website for more about NVW and this year's faculty list.


  • The 40th Northern Short Course is March 16-18 and will be at the Westin Tysons Corner in Falls Church, Va., near Washington, D.C. Register before March 3 to avoid a late fee. Featured speakers include Devin Allen, Xyza Cruz Bacani, Sharon Farmer, Shweta Gulati, Shuran Huang and others. 


  • AI is impacting photojournalism. Authentication of digital visual content is critical. The Kalish visual editing workshop is hosting a free webinar discussion, "Authentication of digital visual content in the age of misinformation," on March 1 at 7 p.m. ET. Register here.

  • The deadline to apply for The Kalish visual editing workshop is April 1. The workshop is June 4-9 at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

  • Applications for the 2023 Ochberg Fellowship are due March 1. The Dart Center program is for senior and mid-career journalists who wish to deepen their knowledge of emotional trauma and psychological injury, and improve reporting on violence, conflict and tragedy.

  • A few items from the Asian American Journalists Association: the organization is accepting applications for its Photojournalism Excellence Awards. AAJA Photo Awards recognize the best visual journalism by AAJA members; the deadline is Feb. 28. The 2023 AAJA convention is July 19-23 in Washington, D.C. The organization is also recruiting judges for its 2023 awards contest; the deadline to apply to be a judge is March 15. And students, if you are an AAJA member, applications are open for the VOICES 2023 fellowship. The deadline is March 3.


  • International Documentary Association (IDA) is partnering with Video Consortium to host the Documentary Journalism Summit from March 7 to 10. Apply before FRIDAY.

  • The Online News Association is holding a virtual career day on March 9.



  • Vital Impacts will award two $20,000 environmental photography grants to support the development of a "long-term documentary photography project with local communities who are working to protect the environment and wildlife." The deadline is March 15.


  • Daniella Zalcman and Natalie Keyssar are offering another round of professional development workshops for photographers. This year's topics include Breaking News and editing, and they'll host their first in-person workshop in New Orleans. For every five participants who sign up for a given workshop, they will make one scholarship spot available for free for photographers for whom the workshop fee is prohibitive.


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