NPPA Photojournalism Judging Underway
BEST OF PRINT AND WEB, 2001

By Doug White
Special to Poynter.org

Judging for the National Press Photographer’s Association Best of Photojournalism and Photojournalism on the Web categories started Sunday, March 17 and runs through Friday at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The contest, free and open to both NPPA members and non-members, is the organization’s first solely sponsored photojournalism competition since 1957.

Members of the contest committee say they are pleased with both the number of entries, and the commitment shown by the pool of distinguished judges.

"I'm really impressed with the scope of the entries, and I'm most pleased with the judges who have given of their time," said contest chairperson Maria Mann, director of photography for Agence France-Presse for North
America.

The judges have their hands full as photographers from around the globe submitted more than 22,000 images for consideration in the competition’s 31 picture categories and seven online categories.

"I'm generally impressed," said judge Michele Stephenson, Time magazine’s director of photography. "I haven’t judged this type of competition in a few years and the level of photography has improved."

Stephenson said the Best of Photojournalism Contest will not only celebrate great documentary photography, but will also spark new and substantive dialogue in the international photojournalism community.

"These contests are getting out there and getting discussions going about what makes a good picture,"she said. "It’s really encouraging."

Contest committee member Kenny Irby said the dialogue has already begun. NPPA posted all the entries on its website, and professionals, teachers, and students alike have taken note.

"Educators have contacted us saying they’re using the photos daily in their classes," said Irby, Poynter Visual Journalism Group Leader. "This contest is dynamic and rich in diversity, and is the benchmark of excellence in
photography valid in both craft and education."

Since the break from the partnership with the University of Missouri’s Pictures of the Year, the NPPA has worked to create a highly competitive contest of its own.

Irby is joined by fellow committee members Joe Elbert of The Washington Post and Larry Nighswander of Ohio University.

That group of individuals and their respective organizations, in addition to the software engineers at MerlinOne, are working together to share resources, finances, expertise and brainpower. In addition to the committee
sponsors, corporate sponsors Fuji and Penn Camera have also signed on to help make the contest a success.

Contest winners will be announced throughout the week. Results will be posted here as they become available.

Judging for the Best of Picture Editing competition will take place at Ohio University on April 6-7.