Columbia Missourian Photo Editor
As the visual project manager for the social justice beat atthe Columbia Missourian and in collaboration with a team of reporters,editors, designers, and photographers, I provided the visual leadership to thestories relating to race, culture ethnicity and identity. I championed powerfuland insightful photography and produced digital and print documentary projectsfrom ideation and schedule management to curation and publication.
I spearheaded this project with co-editor Nicole Gutierrez, photographer Zach Linhares and reporters Ella McCarthy and Olivia Evans. Without strict ADA regulations on temporary structures, Halloween events such as haunted houses can present challenges to those who may require physical and mental assistance. However, Fear Fest in Columbia, Mo has taken extra measures to ensure an accessible "haunt" by providing ramps, alternate routes, and additional help when needed. The character driven photo essay shares the experiences of those behind the scenes, behind the masks, and those who have come to enjoy the accomodating attraction.
Photographer Ciara McCaskill spent two months documenting the lives of two Columbia families who shared their experiences about the high costs of youth sports from league fees to travel and gear expenses to accompany the reporting by Shannon Belt and Olivia Evans. I collaborated with the reporters on sourcing. I contacted the parents and explained the visual component of the story. I worked with McCaskill managing her schedule and getting closer with her subjects. I was specificually looking for moments of the parental-child relationship in order to show the motive behind why the parents invest so much in their children. Their parents are fully commited financially and emotionally to their child's effort. The edit consists of a two parallel narratives following Zaire and her father and Bredun and his father.
I worked with reporters Olivia Evans and Ella McCarthy and photographers Alessia Tagliabue, Lily Dozier, and Owen Ziliak to tell the story of three leaders whose roles in the community have progressed since the over one hundred days of protesting--spurred by the death of George Floyd-- in the streets of downtown Columbia ended. The vision behind the project was to intergrate environmental portraits with archivial images to illustrate their roles in the past and in the present. Using the wide environmental portrait as a consistent element for the viewer to follow, the project synthesizes the perspective of several photographers. Archival images photographed by Marco Storel, Hana Kellenberger and Armond Feffer.
Photographer Alessia Tagliabue and reporter Shannon Mia Belt covered the experiences of international athletes at MU who, while on their student visas, are excluded from the new NCAA rule allowing the monetization of one's name, image and likeness. Tagliabue captured powerful portraits using subtractive lighting as the consistent element of Serbian javelin thrower Atina Kamasi and Hungarian tennis player Vivien Abraham. I worked with Tagliabue on building the cover art using flat lay experience from the wedding industry. She rounded out the photo package with a dynamic silhouette.
Photographer Alessia Tagliabue and reporter Robby Campbell followed local high school golfer Audrey Rischer during the Missouri state championship tournament. The sophmore had a legit chance after setting a girl's golf state record with 12 under par during the season and placing second in the tournament a year prior. Tagliabue documents Rischer from the quiet moments sharing Skittles with coach between strokes to the sour taste of just falling short again.
Photographer Olivia Anderson covered the first home game for the Missouri Men's basketball team. The edit shows both the excitement for the home opener and the standout players.
Nicole Gutierrez photographed an important state hearing relating COVID-19. Nikki Strong, executive director of the Missouri Health Care Association, cautioned against a vaccination mandate for nursing home staff concerned that they would lose staff. Gutierrez's creative vision enhances the written narrative. She captures both the newsworthiness of the situation but also finds interesting moments that express more nuances about those involved such as expression and gesture.