On a roll: VisCom students win seventh national award

The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) awarded Ohio University’s NPPA Student Chapter the Outstanding Student Chapter Award for the 2023/24 school year. This is the seventh time that the student chapter has been recognized since the inception of the award. 

Top photo: NPPAOU members pose with former White House Photographer and VisCom Professor Emeritus Pete Souza, who visited campus in September of 2023.

Zoe Cranfill, 2022/23 president of NPPAOU, is a rising senior who studies photojournalism and commercial photography in the School of Visual Communication (VisCom).

“This award means that our community was able to really foster a community of photojournalism and show that students really have a voice and that we are really interested in photojournalism. And that we want to make a difference in the profession, and it also really shows that we have support from our professors,” Cranfill says.

The award recognizes student chapters that have served visual journalism students with engaging and beneficial programming and activities. This year, OHIO’s NPPA student chapter was involved in various activities, including organizing lectures, networking events, a photo contest and more. The 2023/24 chapter executives included Charlie Nick as vice president, Megan Vanvlack as treasurer, and Pearl Spurlock as secretary.

Tim Goheen, professor and VisCom director, says VisCom is very proud of its students.

“Being named the Outstanding Student Chapter by the NPPA for the fourth time in six years is more than an award, it’s a recognition of our chapter’s sustained excellence, leadership, and commitment to the values of photojournalism,” Goheen says. “It’s a proud moment that inspires both faculty and students to continue pushing the boundaries of storytelling and upholding the highest standards of our profession.” 

Sue Morrow is a faculty advisor for the NPPAOU chapter. She teaches in VisCom when able and is also the full-time editor of News Photographer Magazine for the National Press Photographers Association.

“The students do it all. I’m here for guidance along the way, often helping connect them with speakers, etcetera. They arrange the activities for the meetings and keep the momentum alive. After a long day of work, I head to the meeting and always feel energized by this group. It never fails. I am forever grateful for their engagement and teamwork with one another.” Morrow says.

Stan Alost is the graduate director for VisCom and a faculty advisor for the NPPA student chapter. He says the chapter builds a supportive community that helps its members achieve recognition and internship placements as well as jobs after graduation.

“Being in the room and watching them question speakers, support each other, and build such enduring camaraderie on their own makes me know that the future is in good hands,” Alost says. 

Last year, the chapter hosted a Womxn Panel with Marlena Sloss, Madeline Hordenski and Salgu Wismath, with Morrow as moderator. Alost says that this event, and others like it, bring the OHIO students into the forefront of industry issues.

As president, Cranfill was in charge of organizing events and reaching out to potential guest speakers. She says the position was challenging but that it’s rewarding to look back on what the organization has accomplished.

“Even if you’re not a photojournalist, we would love for you to come and join,” Cranfill says. “People kind of stay away from this if they’re not in photojournalism, but we love everybody to come and learn about journalism and photography.”

She is spending the summer in the OHIO-in-LA program and is currently working as an intern for the Los Angeles Times.

“It really feels like I’m a photojournalist for them,” she says. “Every day I go out and I get an assignment and I photograph, which is really awesome. It has been an incredible experience that I hope everybody has the chance to do.”