Pulitzer photojournalists share skills at communications congress

NEW YORK—Two award-winning journalists, including a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, will lead workshops at the upcoming RCCongress 2010 in Chicago.

John White, a staff photographer with the Chicago Sun-Times since 1978, will lead a photojournalism workshop on April 8. White, who has described photojournalists as "the eyes" of a newspaper, says: "In life, in events, there's almost a moment -- there's always a moment within a moment. And that's what we must capture."

White was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Photojournalism in 1982 for his "consistently excellent work on a variety of subjects." He has also won three National Headliner Awards; was the first photographer inducted into the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame; has been awarded the Chicago Press Photographer Association's Photographer of the Year award five times, and, in 1999, received the Chicago Medal of Merit.

In his presentation to RCCongress participants, White will discuss themes that undergird his work as a photojournalist. "I'm faithful to my purpose, my mission, my assignment, my work, my dreams. I stay focused on what I'm doing and what's important," White said. "And I keep in flight – I spread my wings and do it."

The other journalist, Kenneth Irby, will present a workshop on "Communications Ethics Today," on April 9, dealing with the new approaches to photographic coverage and presentation required by converging media and cross-platform publishing.

In the workshop, Irby plans to discuss current convergence efforts, ethical tough calls, editing strategies and exploring ideas for developing ethical guidelines for photographic multi-media presentation. Participants will explore the power of photo-driven multimedia storytelling to convey information quickly and sharpen their ability to handle graphic and traumatic news coverage decisions.

Irby is the Florida-based Poynter Institute's visual journalism group leader and director of diversity. He founded Poynter's photojournalism program in 1995. He has taught numerous seminars and consults in areas of photojournalism, leadership, ethics and diversity.

Irby contributed as a photo editor to three Pulitzer Prize-winning projects while working at Newsday in New York, and he chaired the photography categories for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize. He is a recipient of numerous National Press Photographers Association awards. As a leader and facilitator in the field of visual journalism, Irby is a frequent lecturer and author on photographic reporting issues, most recently for National Public Radio.

RCCongress 2010 Media Contact

Lesley Crosson, 212-870-2676, media@churchworldsservice.org