Tom Kennedy

Tom Kennedy - Beginnings in Photography

Award-winning photojournalist and editor Tom Kennedy gives us a window into his early life, and how he was influenced to begin a career in photography, and what it is like to be in a behind the scenes role.

This interview was conducted by PhotoWings in partnership with Blue Earth Alliance.

Tom Kennedy is an internationally-known visual journalist with extensive experience in print and online journalism, including positions as Managing Editor for Multimedia at The Washington Post and Director of Photography for the National Geographic Magazine. He has created, directed, and edited visual journalism projects that have earned Pulitzer Prizes, as well as EMMY, Peabody, and Edward R. Murrow awards. Currently, he is Executive Director for American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP). As the Managing Editor for Multimedia at washingtonpost.com, Kennedy conceptualized and developed its multimedia section, and created the first documentary video team to produce stories for a newspaper website. Prior to joining washingtonpost.com, Kennedy was the Director of Photography at the National Geographic Society for ten years. He directed the Photographic Division that produced all still photography for the Society, with the primary focus on National Geographic Magazine. While at the Philadelphia Inquirer as Deputy Graphics Director, Kennedy directed and edited two projects that earned Pulitzer Prizes for feature photography. Kennedy serves on the Board of Directors for the Eddie Adams Photo Workshop and has served previously on the Board of Advisors for The Knight Center for International Journalism within the School of Communication at the University of Miami, and the Board of Visitors for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He has also been an advisor to visual journalism programs at the University of North Texas and University of Florida. Kennedy graduated cum laude with a degree in journalism from the University of Florida.

Collaborations for Cause is a two-day event that brings together cutting-edge content creators and front-line organizations for an exploration of how to harness the power of the evolving media landscape. Presented by Blue Earth Alliance, the fourth annual conference builds upon the organization's 20-year history of facilitating issue-driven visual storytelling. With a mix of presentations by leading experts, in-depth case studies showcasing real projects, insightful arm-chair conversations, and break-out sessions, participants will leave inspired and armed with fresh approaches, an expanded network of contacts and new resolve to build lasting positive change.

Tom Kennedy: Using Collaboration to Make Impactful Change – Collaborations for Cause 2016

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