Photojournalism

Martin Parr: Kentucky:: Derby 2015                                                             

Martin Parr, a photographer, is famously known for documenting the social classes of England and more broadly the wealth of the Western world. Parr’s interest in the Western world fully explains how he ended up at the Kentucky Derby. “Parr likes to get up close and personal with his subjects. It allows him to put his subjects, under the microscope in their own environment, giving them space to expose their lives and values in ways that often involve inadvertent humor,” according to Olivier Laurent, editor for Time Light Box. Parr’s awards list has on ongoing time span starting from 2004. A few recent awards include Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society (2005) and the International award from the Photographic Society in Japan (2008).

2015 Kentucky Derby observer.

“You get a bit tired with people with hats so it’s your job to find something a bit different,” says Parr, from an interview with Laurent. This picture represents the “something different” that Parr describes because it’s the Derby, a high class event with high class people. Women at the Derby are usually wearing high dollar dresses and very large hats. They usually aren’t, shoeless and laying their high dollar dress all over the bench like Parr’s subject here. She then proceeds to use her seat cushion to cushion her head as she falls asleep. This picture is best described by Parr in his interview with Time. Parr says, “It’s very American there’s no other place where the prices are huge. It’s American capitalism at its best and worse. Everything out there was crazy,” says Parr after his trip to Kentucky Derby where he got this shot.

 News Values: Prominence and Proximity

Prominence is relevant because the Kentucky Derby is a famous event across the world. The evidence of this prominence factor is the photographer of topic is currently stationed in Germany and yet was sent on an Kentucky Derby assignment.

Proximity is relevant in that this event is taking place in the state we all call home, or temporary home. We know about this event and are very familiar as to when it takes place, and what the event has to offer.

Massimo Sestini: Mediterranean Sea:: June 7, 2014                                      

Massimo Sestini, is an Italian photographer who is based in Florence Italy. Sestini, a daring and determined photographer, is known to go after the shots in dangerous settings; like hanging from the frame of a helicopter to capture the image below. Sestini gathered all of his photographs from different events and opened his first exhibition in 2008 to present his work. After 2015, when he captured this photo of the refugees, he was awarded 2015 World Press Photo.

500 refugees fleeing from their homelands of
 Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan due to civil wars.

Italian navy rescues refugees, who are departing from the Middle East, are traveling across the Mediterranean Sea to seek refuge in Europe. This picture displays hundreds of  individuals seeking refuge and help from war and poverty. This picture features the desperate needs and courageous nature of these refugees. Only 8 months before they set off on their journey, a previous boat preforming the same duties sank off the coast of Lampedusa killing more than 250 people. These people make desperate attempts at fleeing their civil wars, according to Noah Raymon from Time.

This picture also gives hope by representing Italy’s naval mission: “Mare Nostrum” which translates to “Our Sea.” Through their efforts 30,000 people have been relocated and helped medically and in living conditions, according to Raymon from Time.

 News Values: Conflict and Impact

            Conflict is a news value because these refugees are fleeing from civil war in Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan, according to International Affairs review. This conflict is the reason behind this photo having value. If the conflict was present then the significances wouldn’t be there and these people wouldn’t be jeopardizing comfort and personal space in this extreme way, for a better life and living conditions.

            Impact is a news value due to all the countries taking in these refugees. These countries are experience major population impact. While trying to sustain these refugees Europe is also experiencing a food shortage and property impact as these people need food and a place to go. In another sense, this picture and their story is impactful to those who have not been affected by such extremes of hardship that many can’t imagine.

Landon Nordeman: Palace Theater:: February 08, 2016                               

Landon Nordeman began his career in 1997 when he accepted the staff photographer position at the Daily Progress in Charlottesville, Virginia. Nordeman then went to study photojournalism at the school of Visual Communications at the Ohio University. There he was selected from hundreds of applicants to be the photography intern for National Geographic. According to a biography of Landon Nordeman provided by National Geographic, “Whether shooting an assignment for National Geographic or a grant project on Staten Island, Nordeman develops a personal connection with his subjects and searches for unexpected moments to tell their story.” Nordeman did just that with the photo he captured from the Bernie Sanders 2016 Presidential campaign in Manchester, New Hampshire. 

After Bernie Sander's presidential campaign, man looses
something on the floor.

                                      

In this photo is a single man on the floor of the first level of the Palace Theatre, in Manchester New Hampshire. Nordeman captured this photo while the man was trying to find something he had lost on the floor. Despite his actual intentions of lying on the floor, it appeared as if a crime had been committed at the rally for Bernie Sanders. A violent act at a presidential campaign isn’t an oddity, and that’s why this photo received the attention it did. It placed in the viewer’s mind the possibility of violence occurring at such a bias event. This photo symbolizes the ongoing and growing hatred between political parties. It questions the dramatic lengths that the supporters are willing to go to, to aid their candidate in the election.

News Values: Immediacy and Novelty

            Immediacy is a relevant news value because this photo was taken at a Presidential campaign for Bernie Sanders only three months ago. It’s also immediate in that these campaigns are still going today.

            Novelty is a justified news value in that this picture makes you look twice because of its dark and eerie appearance. Although it’s not a dark photo of a violent crime that has been committed, it appears that way. This disillusion qualifies for novelty in that it’s not what you expect.

Jeff Widener: China:: June 5, 1989.                                                              

“Tank Man” taken by Jeff Widener would become known as the greatest news photographs of all time, according to Kate Pickert from Time. While “Tank Man” is by far the most popular photo of Widener, he has also covered assignments in over 100 other countries covering civil unrest and war on social issues. According to Widener’s official webpage, “While traveling the globe Widener became the title holder of the first photojournalist to file digital images from the South Pole.” In order to kick off his career he attended Los Angeles Pierce College and Moorepark College, where he majored in photojournalism. Widener was 25 years of age when he accepted the position in Bussels, Belgium as a staff photographer working with the United Press International. After 1989 and his Tank Man popularity explosion, Widener continued to Thailand, Miami, Honolulu and is currently in Hamburg, Germany, doing freelance work. Widener has been awarded multiple awards and honors for his production of the years. According to Widener's official webpage, "A few of these awards are, Picture of the Year Internationally, NPPA Best of Photojournalist and National head-liner award."

"Tank Man" photo taken by Jeff Widener from a nearby hotel.

Widener was assigned to cover the events or actions results of the Tiananmen Square protest in 1989. These protests were by students (in Beijing) who were mourning the death of the Communist Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang. Hu had the students’ hearts because he voiced his disagreement against inflation, limited career prospects, and corruption in the party elites. The protest reached its climax of approximately one million people all assembled at the square. It was the day after lives of students were taken by police and internal security forces. This man, after visiting the local grocery store, came to face death without hesitation. “I assume he thinks he’s going to die. But he doesn’t seem to care, for whatever reason his statement means more to him than his life,” according to Widener from an interview with Kate Pickert.

News Values: Conflict and Emotion

Conflict is an obvious news value for two reasons. This picture exists because there is a protest going on by college students. These college students were met with excessive force by the police and internal forces resulting in death. Another reason this is an example of conflict is because a man is no match for the three tanks in front of him. The question on whether or not the tanks will continue in their paths exemplifies conflict.

            Emotion is relevant in we feel the pain of the loss of the college students by viewing this individual’s courage. We want to unify with his efforts knowing such drastic measures should not have been taken.

Mario Testino: Wales:: 1997                                                                          

Mario Testino a well-known photographer. “Testino started out selling portfolios to wanna-be models, but then found his true calling in photographing portraits for famous people; including Princess Diane. His specialty is to reveal the deceptive air of nonchalance in his photographs,” according to article from People. His popularity doesn’t stop behind the lens of a camera, Testino is famously known in the designer and fashion editors’ world too. “Testino popularity and talent both captures and sells beautiful clothes, according to article from People.

Princess Diane of Whales is modeling for Mario Testino

News Value: Prominence

Princess Diane is famously known for her caring and giving qualities. According to Valorie Delp, “Diana is noted for two major contributions to humanitarianism, although during her lifetime she was President or Patron of over 100 charities.”

Jay Bourne

Jay Bourne the current president of the National College Forensics Association, a former president for Southern State Communications Association, previous governor on well-known Pi Kappa Delta, and beloved coach for University of the Cumberlands Forensics team tells of his success and obstacles that are apart of his career story.

Q: When and why did you seek a masters degree in communications; specifically Forensics?  

A: Honestly, I didn't have any future plans and I was offered a graduate assistantship to help coach a speech team, which I was good at. I said, “more schooling, sounds good.” I probably wouldn't have gone on to do that at University of the Cumberlands, if I wasn't offered the assistantship. Lack of a definite career plan led me there.

Q: What opportunities did your masters’ degree make available to you?

A:   Well there are a lot of people who have master degrees. There aren't many who have a background in coaching a debate team. So that was my leg up, in terms of applying for jobs, that we call comprehensive programs. A program could do just debate or just individual events or both. So I had experience in coaching and participating in debate which helped me excel.

Q: What is your most proud moment of your career?

A: I’m proud to say this past year, as a debate team, has been our best yet.

Q: What part of your career do you enjoy the most?

A: What I'm most proud of, and it's not a single time, but when past competitions have success come their way and they contribute at least some of their success to what they learned on the speech team. For example, students who got full rides to law school, based partly, not solely, but partly off the debate team, who have been allowed to compete in mock trail. A lot of the time I'll get people that put the debate team on their resume and that helps them get jobs, because it's proof you can communicate well. I like that many of our students have gone in various fields, from ministry to bio-chemistry that their communication skills have helped them out.

Q: What is the definition of Forensics?

A:   The definition of forensics is to improve persuasive skills and how to relate to your audience. Our goal is to get you to communicate and think effectively.

Q: What is the difference between forensics and common communications?

A:   The goal is to improve communication skills no mater where they come from across the college. In other types of communication, or interpersonal communication, would be looking at developing your skills in a broad area to prepare you for a job/ career. The Forensics team angle is concerned with developing your persuasive skills and how to relate to your audience really well.The Forensic team isn't communication major dependent, where they others would be. Both are valuable.

Q: What is the most difficult requirement with your career?

A:   The chemistry of the team is undefinable. Some years it's good and some years it isn't, and there is only so much you can do as a coach. It's a hard thing to manipulate and affect positively. Just like teaching a class; you can teach the class the same way at the same time but the outcome is effected by the makeup of the student’s chemistry, which could make it fun and less fun.

Q: For the 12 years, you have been the Debate Coach at UC in that time how many states have you and your students competed in?

A:   We have covered a lot of territory. We have a map pinned to a peg board across from my office with a pin in every state we have competed in. I have been to about every state with an exception of six and the obvious Hawaii and Alaska. As a team we have covered a pretty good portion of the south and the west. There is a gap in the north by the Dakotas and Canada. It's been quite awhile since we have been to the north east. I would say we have been from Kentucky down, including Florida and on over to New Mexico.

Q: What were some of your major accomplishments awarded?

A: I've been President of Kentucky forensic association before, and I’ve also been chair of SSCA, or Southern State Communication Association, for forensics. Ive been re-elected for President of the National College Forensic Association This year for another two year term, which is year 5 and 6. After this term I will call it quits. There is no term limit but I am putting one on it. After experience, you get put in leadership positions opportunities. We have one called Pi Kappa Delta. They divide up the country into regions and they have governors for those regions. I have been the governor for the south east region before. Those are the different areas I've helped out and done. These positions are given to those you have been around for awhile and I've enjoyed being apart of it.

Q: What is the Quality award?

A:   At the end of the tournament the ballot collectors divide the points each debater has earn by the slots or events in which they were entered. The higher the score the higher the average for each member on the team.

Q: How come the Quality award is your team’s goal every year at nationals?

A:   For us that's a good indicator on how we are doing compared to other teams. We know we aren't the largest team around, for multiple reasons. One reason being we don't give out scholarships. But there are a lot of teams that do pay, and it's easier to get participation when you pay people, right? We tend to do well with what we have, because I like to be a good steward of what we are given. We tend to do well at competitions that offer the quality award, but it doesn't mean we don't bring home the sweepstakes award because we've done that too. It's a way to look at the tournament and figure out how we compare to the other teams. For example in the tournament at University of West Florida we were probably 3^rd or 4^th on quality.

Q: How motivating was it to win the Professional level Debate tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee?

A: I don't know if it was motivating. I thought it was humorous actually. The coach at Union, Web Drake, actually yelled out, “still got it,” when I received the award. That was good; it's nice to know I can still debate after coaching for so long. It made me realize how difficult it can be to do what I want the students to do. I got to see first-hand that is not as easy as it sometimes looks. It’s refreshing to debate at the professional level, I do that once every five years.

Q: What were some of the recent accomplishments at 2016 nationals?

A:   In a ranking from top to bottom I think we're 4^th in total points earned. We were competitive as anybody.

Q: How do you balance your home life and the blessing of a special needs child with your career?

A: Balancing the plates is never easy. It's always a balancing act. It's interesting, especially after we had Ethan. I'll be honest having Ethan is challenging because out of all things I worry about him and his physical impairment is one I worry about the most, in how to re-act proactively. And to be honest I'm an only kid and I don't have a frame of reference in being a parent or in sibling’s behavior. I've learned a lot. I've learned to accept people for who they are, that there are simple things that matter more than others, like being kind, hoping they will be kind to you. Everyone can be kind. I also think it humbled me a bit, and that's not a bad thing. You learn you can't fix everything and you can't control things. But that doesn't mean you have to accept things for what everyone thinks they should be. You can strive to make the best of what you can and over come barriers. You learn you have to be dependent on other people. You hear that phrase it takes a village, and it really does. No matter the situation, special needs or not, there are always good people around that really want to help, if you let them. For a lot of people that's a hard thing to do, because you want to be independent and handle things on your own. It's humbling to say you can't do things on your own, but it's also freeing in it own way too.

Q: What are some of the disadvantages of this career?

A:   It’s the good and the bad: the travel. It’s fun because of all the different places we get to, that we haven't yet been and yet there are a long times we are away. Students have to catch up on work and I as well, additional to catching up on things at home.

Q: What advice would you give to someone going into this career?

A:   It’s beneficial in that it gets you out of the classroom. The blessing and the down side of communication is it's more like a funnel of huge career opportunities, but it doesn't groove you for one specific task. In other words, it's different from say a degree in accounting, where guess what you're going to do: accounting. But if your degree is in communications there is no communication factory. It gives you ton of flexibility, in terms of a career. It may not prepare you for one specific job, it's not a machinist position. It's really good if you have any idea of what you want to do, or if you plan on internships in the future. The ability to demonstrate that you can communicate efficiently will give you a leg up, in terms of a career.

Q:   Do you see a future for those who have a communications degree or is the field of study declining?

A:   Two things, employers say that communication skills are very important and it's highly considered when employers are hiring. It's actually more important than your GPA or where you went to school. We live in a society where things are changing so fast, what is state-of-the-art today won't be four years from now.

Q: In your off time what events or hobbies do you enjoy?

A: Aside from spending a lot of time with the family, I read a lot. Since we debate a variety of subjects, I like to read a variety of material. Which I enjoy anyway, but in my head I think of it has debate prep, even though it isn't. I sing a pretty good bit. My dad was a minster in music and youth. I'm in leadership in music service. That's about all I have time for.

Q: Additional to your awards achieved during your student years, how many awards have you received at the Professional level, as a coach?

A: My first year of coaching at UC the state association named me the coach of the year. I think I got more votes because they liked me. I don't think there are many awards for the coaching staff. Eventually you work your way into leadership position as awards.

Q: What is the goal of Forensic Communication?

A:   I think it's more important to think constructively and critically while constructing messages to share with others.

Bourne on the track to success

            Walking into the Grace Crum Rollins building at the University of the Cumberlands, it is hard to believe there is a room more inviting than the foyer, but continuing down the hall and to the left you find it.
Room 113 offers more than pretty décor that shouldn't be touched, instead it holds the best kept secret on campus. As you enter you find traveling adventures captured at the most memorable locations. These memories are creatively displayed starting at the ceiling then gravitate down toward the floor. Starting at the ceiling the décor displayed are three pointed flags from each university ever visited by the UC Debate Team. Continuing down the wall are various 12" by 8" white poster papers revealing past competition locations and Bourne’s favorite Christian artist and bands. The floor itself contains memorabilias such as trophies, plaques, and metals which add to the character and three dimensional aspect of the room. There in the center of the room, acting as the finishing touch, is Mr. Jay Bourne with “the neatest and cleanest desk,” says one of Bourne’s colleagues. Obviously known for his tidiness Bourne is also known for his smile and encouraging persona.

Bourne’s persona is not limited to smiling and encouraging but also one of determination and hard work. His colleague, Marianne Worthington says, “Bourne is a really hard worker. He puts in long hours and late nights with the debate team, week in and week out.” Bourne is known as the keeper of UC’s best kept secret, as he is the coach and inspiration to the UC debate team.

The UC Debate Team has seen great success with Bourne as their coach. Anna Poynter, a current student under Bourne, who was recently named National Champion in her debate division says, “Jay is a very encouraging coach. He knows how to connect individually with each member on the team and truly wants what is best for everyone on the team.”

Although Bourne garnered his success through debate, he stresses the communication field to be the door to success for all students. Bourne has a strong bond with the art of debate and the value of communication skills. Bourne says, “Communication skills allow you ton of flexibility in terms of a career. They are also the skills that are also highly considered by employers.” In fact, Bourne has seen students with majors spanning from ministry to bio-chemistry benefit from skills learned at debate. “It's the part of my career I enjoy the most, when my students excel after their experience on the debate team,” Bourne said.

Additional to a successful career, Bourne is admirable for his commitment to his home and hobbies. He enjoys his family everyday with the little pleasures of his son Ethan and daughter Ellie. Bourne’s wife and number one supporter is his wife Beth-Ann.

 While not at work, or playing with the kids, or spending quality time with Beth-Ann, Bourne appreciates the quiet moments to enjoy a good book. He actually labels his wide span of reading material as “debate prep,” hoping the variety will offer aid and insight into a future debate topic. On the weekend, when Bourne isn't traveling the nation, his second favorite past time is illuminated on the stage of his home church, Grace on the Hill, as he leads the congregation in song service. “My love for music developed as a child, as I watched and admired my Dad while he lead songs as a youth and music minster,” says Bourne.

As we all strive for success, Bourne reveals the secret to on how to achieve it. “You learn you can’t fix everything and you can’t control things. But that doesn’t mean you except things for what everyone thinks they should be, you can strive to make the best of what you can and overcome the barriers of life with success.”