Region 5 News and National News

Two in a row: Ron Johnson is the NPPA Region 5 Still Photographer of the Year

Congratulations, once again, to Ron Johnson, NPPA Region 5's Photographer of the year! To see the final point standings, click here...

This is the second year in a row that Ron Johnson of the Journal Star in Peoria, Ill., has won the Region 5 Photographer of the Year title. The first time he won the title was in 1991 while Johnson was a staff photographer at the La Crosse Tribune in La Crosse, Wis., in 1991. While in La Crosse, Johnson held the Wisconsin News Photographers Association's Clip POY title for 10 consecutive years.

He began his career while still attending college at the University of South Dakota where he studied Mass Communications, and shooting for the weekly Vermillion Plain Talk, then as a staff photographer for the Brookings Daily Register.

"The Journal Star believes in giving it's photographers creative freedom with great photo-play that page designers display each day," he said.

Ron has been on staff at the Journal Star since 2001, living in the town of Washington, Ill., with his wife Cathy, and sons Tyler and Matt.

NPPA's Popular Monthly News Clip Contest (MNCC) Goes Digital

January 23, 2008 - The National Press Photographers Association's long-standing and popular Monthly News Clip Contest is going digital beginning with the January 2008 entries, NPPA announced today.

The MNCC's new format should be easier and faster for entrants, judges, and contest chairs alike.

"Going digital makes this a better contest, and that's the goal," NPPA executive director Jim Straight said today. "Digital will let us run this contest 'on time' and in today's digital world that's important. As an unexpected result, it will also create more space in News Photographer magazine for more stories, photographs, and original content. The magazine is consistently listed as one of the members' top benefits, and the MNCC contest has been an important part of News Photographer over the years, and this advancement lets us make the best of both worlds for the contest and the magazine.

Read the whole story on the NPPA site: http://www.nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2008/01/mncc.html

Vote for regional director and associate director

January 4, 2008 - The Region 5 elections for Regional Director and Regional Associate Director are open through January 31st, please vote by the deadline.

As an NPPA member, you are represented by a Regional Director and a Regional Associate Director. Your director serves on the NPPA Board of Directors and represents you in important decisions about the future of the NPPA. They are your voice in the organization. Every two years you have the opportunity to elect new regional officers. For odd regions, this is your year.

Many of us have benefited greatly from our membership in the NPPA. The NPPA belongs to its members, and we have a responsibility to ensure that it continues as a home for excellence in photojournalism, ethics and education. I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to choose your elected NPPA leaders.

Please read about your candidates and vote online at http://www.nppa.org/elections/.

You may also request a paper ballot by calling the NPPA National Office at (919) 383-7246, ext. 14.

Tony Overman
President, NPPA

Sartin appointed associate director

October 4, 2007 - Region 5 Director Mike Borland has appointed Northwest News Group's Shaun Sartin to the recently vacated associate director position.

After spending more than seven years at the former Copley Chicago Newspapers and Sun-Times News working out of the Aurora Beacon News, Shaun moved in January, 2006, to the Northwest News Group in Crystal Lake, Ill. where he is currently the group photo editor.

Prior to arriving in Chicago, Shaun was a staff photographer at The Topeka Capital-Journal from 1996-1999. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and is a native of Omaha, Neb.

When not at work, he enjoys riding his motorcycle and this summer rode it out to Portland, Ore. for the NPPA Multimedia Immersion program.

Borland becomes Region 5 director

September 19, 2007 - As you may know, I've been the Region 5 Associate Director for about a year and a half. With the resignation of Greg Morley I've become Director.

Greg did a great job getting Region 5 moving forward. I hope in the short time I'm in office, until January 1, I can continue the momentum. Region 5 may be the most honored region in terms of contest winners. I'm proud to represent all of you.

A little bit about me. I've been at the same TV station, WHO-TV in Des Moines, for 30 years. I've been the Chief Photojournalist there for about half of that time. I've seen a lot of change in the news business and through it all the NPPA has been a big help to me. I will need feedback from still members to know and understand issues facing them.

There are some immediate needs for Region 5 in terms of volunteers. There is no Associate Director now. I'm working to fill that position and if you want to serve I'll consider you. The position of Job Information Bank Chair is also open. This is one of the really important services provided by the NPPA. Again, volunteers are welcome.

Contact me at mike.borland@whotv.com if you're interested in volunteering or if you want to let me know what the NPPA and Region 5 can do for you. My work phone is 515-242-3640, home is 515-254-0462.

Candidates needed for Region 5 elections

September 19, 2007 - All odd numbered regions in the NPPA, including Region 5, will elect a Director and Associate Director in November of 2007.

At this point Region 5 is short on candidates. If you have any interest in being a part of the decision making process of the NPPA it's time to throw your hat in the ring.

It's simple. Send a candidate statement and a photo to Nominations Chair Kristyna Wentz-Graff at kwentz@journalsentinel.com.

The term for both offices is two years, from 1/1/2008 through 12/31/2009.

For more information, please refer to NPPA Bylaws at www.nppa.org/about_us/governance/bylaws.html and NPPA Standing Rules at www.nppa.org/about_us/governance/standing_rules.html, or contact Director Mike Borland.

Region 5 Elections Scheduled, Call for Nominations

August 1, 2007--NPPA Region 5 Director Gregory Morley announced today nominations for candidates are now being accepted for the position of Director and Associate Director.

The National Press Photographers Association consists of nearly 10,000 professional, student and retired photojournalists representing expertise in traditional still-frame, television and new media technologies. Membership is divided into 11 regions, each represented by elected or appointed members installed every two years and who work together to represent the regional membership's interest on issues ranging from First Amendment to professional growth opportunities.

Eligible candidates must be news division members for at least one full year before the elections or submit a request for waiver to the Nominations Chair. Deadline for submission of biographical statements by candidates to the Nominations Chair Kristyna Wentz-Graff is August 15. Kristyna can be reached at kwentz@journalsentinel.com.

For more information, please refer to NPPA Bylaws at www.nppa.org/about_us/governance/bylaws.html and NPPA Standing Rules at www.nppa.org/about_us/governance/standing_rules.html, or contact Director Mike Borland.

Airborne seminar registration now open

Registration is now open for the 2007 Airborne TV Seminar in Rochester, NY on October 19th (critiques) and 20th (seminar) and Des Moines, IA with critiques on Saturday evening and the seminar on Sunday October 21st, 2007.

Both photographers and reporters are invited to attend the day long program, offered by the National Press Photographers Foundation. There will be breakout sessions for both photographers and reporters and critiques (VHS tape only) at both stops.

Speakers include NPPA's only three time Photographer of the Year, John Goheen; Editor of the Year, Joshua Shea from KCNC in Denver; Joe Fryer, runner-up winner of this year's NPPA Photojournalism Reporting Award from KARE-TV in Minneapolis; and Deborah Potter, Executive Director of the NewsLab in Washington, DC.

For registration forms and additional information, visit our web site at http://www.nppa.org/workshops/airborne or contact Steve Sweitzer, Airborne Chair ssweitzer@wishtv.com 317-956-8561.

NPPA Region 5 Web Site Receives NPPA's Outstanding Publication Award

The NPPA Outstanding Publication Award was given to Maria Neels for http://www.nppa5.org June 2, 2007 at the Photojournalism Summit and Multimedia Immersion in Portland, Oregon. NPPA past president Alicia Wagner Calzada , of San Antonio, TX, was chairman of this year's Honors & Recognitions Committee.

"You have designed and maintained a quality, timely, and relevant Web site for Region 5 that recognizes and informs still and TV news photographers," Calzada said.

The site redesign template was created by NPPA Region 5 member Hart Van Denburg, who lives in Minneapolis.

Maria has maintained and improved the site and its features for the past four years. She stepped down at the end of May after her husband got a job in New Jersey, in preparation for their move.

"I couldn't have maintained and improved the site without the help of a lot of people in the NPPA," Maria said.

New NPPA Region 5 Publication Chair/Webmaster Announced

Region 5 Director Gregory Morley announced today that Kenneth Exum, a staff photographer and web editor with The Register-Mail, in Galesburg, Ill. has been appointed Region 5 Publication Chair/Webmaster. Ken replaces Maria Neels who is relocating with her family to New Jersey.

Ken is a Chicago native, served 21 years in the U.S. Navy and is experienced in a myriad of technical skills including web publishing, photography, journalism, organizational and asset management and teaching in public schools. He currently manages his paper's online editorial content including multimedia projects.

When he wasn't constructing missiles during his military career, Ken was busy with public relations strategies, planning and coordination of media coverage of events and exercises and training subordinates in subjects ranging from darkroom development to television programming to combat readiness.

We are excited to have him volunteer and are confident our award winning regional Web sitewill continue to provide timely and relevant information to Region 5 members.

Please welcome Ken Exum.

BOP TV And Web Photography & Editing Winners in Region 5

Spot News HM -Watch, Wait, & Wail" Andy Shilts/KMSP Minneapolis
Deadline News3rd - "Snored In" Brian Fiser/WHO Des Moines
General News HM -"The Goodyear Treatment" Dan Bolsem/KCCI Des Moines
48 Hour Feature HM -"Sister Roz" Andy Shilts/KMSP Minneapolis
News Feature 2nd - "Milly" Andy Shilts/KMSP Minneapolis 3 rd - "Camp K" Matt Knisely/KMSP Minneapolis
In-Depth/Series 1st - "Portrait of Compassion" John Drilling/KARE Minneapolis HM- "Martha Parkey" Dan Bolsem/KCCI Des Moines
Team Entry (R5 members only, non-members removed from list) 2nd -"Wilmar Kids" Nate Anderson, Andy Sugden KARE/Minneapolis 3 rd -"Skyway Race" Monica Hanson, Andy Sugden, KARE/Minneapolis HM -"The Light from 1,436 Ft." John Drilling, KARE/Minneapolis HM -"Golden on the Pond" John Drilling, Craig Norkus, KARE/Minneapolis
Photographer of the Year POY -Andy Shilts KMSP/Minneapolis
Editing Winners:
General News (Editors) 2nd -"Water Skipping" Jason Hanson/KSTP Minneapolis
Editors Effects 1st - "Downtown 33" Troy Hale/KMSP Minneapolis HM -"Block E" Troy Hale/KMSP Minneapolis
Sports Feature HM-" Michael Annett: On the Fast Track" Brian Fiser/WHO Des Moines HM -"Murderball" Ron Stover/KARE Minneapolis

BOP Still Winners in Region 5 - 8 awards, 6 PJ's

Domestic News 1st: Brian Hill, Daily Herald
Best of Show Brian Hill, Daily Herald
Sports Photojournalist of the Year HM: John Gress freelance/REUTERS
Team Sports Action HM: John Gress, freelance/Reuters
Local Portrait and Personality HM: Amelia Phillips, Kane County Chronicle (Now R7)
Humor HM: Mark Black, Daily Herald
Enterprise Picture Story (smaller markets) 3rd: Whitney Curtis, Standard-Examiner (now Daily Herald, Lisle)
Best Published Picture Story (large markets) 3rd: Jim Gehrz, Minneapolis Star Tribune

NFL Owners Change Sideline TV Photographer Ban

The Radio-Television News Directors Association today said they applaud a decision this week by National Football League team owners who have agreed to change their 2006 unanimous vote banning local television affiliates from NFL game sidelines....MORE