2020 Year in Pictures Gallery

1ST PLACE - Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “Adam Ondra’s Race to the Top”

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1ST PLACE - Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “Adam Ondra’s Race to the Top” - Adam Ondra reaches out for the top of Speed Climbing wall that is 49 feet high at Duro Climbing Gym in Brno, Czech on Nov. 8th, 2019. He is the world best climber in two of the three disciplines, Bouldering and Lead but Speed Climbing is new to him. To win Olympic gold, he needed to learn a new way to climb. Fast.

Results of the 86th Annual Photography & Multimedia Contest, 2020 Year in Pictures and Multimedia Contest, judged in 2021. – Multimedia results | Meet the Judges

The Best in Show, Photographer of the Year and “Anthony J. Causi” Sports Photographer of the year was announced on March 29, 2021.

2021 NYPPA Best in Show Sponsored by FujiFilm is awarded to Al Bello-Getty Images

Olivia Grant (R) hugs her grandmother, Mary Grace Sileo through a plastic drop cloth hung up on a homemade clothes line during Memorial Day Weekend on May 24, 2020 in Wantagh, New York. It is the first time they have had contact of any kind since the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic lockdown started in late February.

2021 Photographer of the Year Sponsored by Canon USA is awarded to David Goldman – Associated Press

2021 “Anthony J. Causi Sports Photographer of the Year Award” Sponsored by Canon USA is awarded to Michael Stobe – Getty Images Independent

Spot News “William V. Finn Memorial” Award

A man swings a hammer during a fight on a street deserted as a result of coronavirus restrictions and wide spread demonstrations about the death of George Floyd in New York, New York, USA, 31 May 2020. Justin Lane/EPA

1st Place – Justin Lane – European Presse Agency – “Street Fight with A Hammer”

2nd Place – John Roca – Independent for Newsday – “Jumper Rescue”

3rd Place – Justin Lane – European Presse Agency – “An Arrest in New York”

HM – Aristide Economopoulos – NJ Advance Media – “Tearful Mother”

HM – Lloyd Mitchell – Independent – “Untitled”

EA – Andrew James Kelly – Reuters Independent – “Officer Down”

EA – Hiroko Masuike – The New York Times – “After a Peaceful Demonstration”

EA – Stefan Thomas Jeremiah – Independent – “Restrained”

EA – Randee Post-Daddona – Independent for Newsday – “Gutted”

EA – Taidgh Barron – Independent – “Lady in Red”

General News

A person lays flowers on the sidewalk outside a shopfront on Broadway featuring a painting of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after it was announced she had passed in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., on Friday, September 18, 2020. As news of Ms. Ginsburg’s death spread, people sought locations to pay their respect to the highly popular Supreme Court Justice. Andrew Kelly/Reuters Independent

1st Place – Andrew Kelly – Reuters Independent – “R.I.P. R.B.G.”

2nd Place – Alexi Rosenfeld – Independent – “Homelessness Next to Banking”

3rd Place – Steve Pfost – Newsday -“Grief”

HM – Aristide Economopoulos – NJ Advance Media – “Lotto Crazy”

HM – Barry Sloan – Newsday – “Reuniting with Matteo”

EA – Todd Maisel – Independent – “A Lasting Memorial”

EA – Ed Murray – NJ Advance Media – “Drive thru Mass”

EA – Gary Hershorn – Independent for Getty Images – “Remembering 9/11”

News Picture Story

A lone fist, representing the sentiments of many of the people of NYC, is held high during the memorial service for George Floyd, whose death in police custody in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests and riots, will take place in Brooklyn Thursday June 4, 2020. J. Conrad Williams Jr. /Newsday

1st Place – J. Conrad Williams – Newsday – “Justice for George Floyd protests”

2nd Place – Julio Cortez – The Associated Press – “George Floyd Protests”

3rd Place – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “Bernie Sanders”

HM – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “George Floyd Protests”

HM – Steven Pfost – Newsday – “Long Island March for Racial Justice”

EA – Thomas A. Ferrara – Newsday – “Black Lives Matter, The Suburban Movement”

Feature

Jenny Edwards, right, holds her eight-month-old grandson, Daniel, during a church service at St. Sabina Catholic Church in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. In harrowing moments, in the sobs of grieving mourners and the incessant wail of sirens, the crises of 2020 have played out painfully within this single Chicago community. Auburn Gresham, a Black community in Chicago, has written its own grim chapter, enduring a deadly virus, economic misery and gun violence, a constant state of turmoil that mirrors the tumult afflicting much of urban America. David Goldman/ The Associated Press

1st Place – David Goldman – The Associated Press – “Prayer”

2nd Place – Aristide Economopoulos – NJ Advance Media – “Kids Playing During Pandemic”

3rd Place – Gary Hershorn – Independent for Getty Images – “Fountain Relief From the Heat”

HM – Hiroko Masuike – The New York Times – “Braving a Snowy Table”

HM – Alexi Rosenfeld – Freelance – “A Child Frames The Empire State Building”

EA – Saed Hindash – NJ Advance Media – “Holiday Display”

EA – Saed Hindash – NJ Advance Media – “Window Scene”

EA – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “We were young and vibrant!”

EA – Gary Hershorn – Independent for Getty Images – “Moon Behind the Statue of Liberty”

EA – Debra Rothenberg – Independent – “Playing Basketball in Old Havana Cuba”

Feature Picture Story

An image of veteran Constance “Kandy” Pinard is projected onto the home she grew up in with her sister, Tammy Petrowicz, left, and brothers, Paul, center, and Brian Driscoll in Florence, Mass., Thursday, May 14, 2020. Pinard, a nurse in the U.S. Air Force and resident of the Soldier’s Home in Holyoke, Mass., died from the COVID-19 virus at the age of 73. Pinard had a life with struggles: A marriage gone sour, the pressures of raising two children on her own, family rifts that grew worse with an aggressive case of dementia. But there were so many joys, too: The miles she drove in her Jeep or flew in the air to reach new places as a travel nurse, the rank of captain she achieved, the thrill of meeting Barry Manilow, the musician she loved. Her sister Tammy Petrowicz remembers a woman overflowing with energy like the Energizer Bunny, who was 16 years older but still could run circles around me. David Goldman/Associated Press

1st Place – David Goldman – The Associated Press – “Legacies of Lives Lost”

2nd Place – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “A Crisis Right Now: Manila Faces Rising Seas”

3rd Place – Aristide Economopoulos – NJ Advance Media – “A Pandemic Summer at Coney Island”

HM – David Goldman – The Associated Press – “The Spaces We Filled Now Filled With Space”

HM – David Goldman – The Associated Press – “Swing State Election”

EA – Hiroko Masuike – The New York Times – “A Funeral Worker Burying His Father”

Pictorial

The sun sets while with a heavy fog cover the Asbury Park Kickball Club play at Atlantic Park. The group plays every Tuesday evening starting at around 6 pm and all are welcome to play. Tuesday, August 11, 2020. Asbury Park, NJ USA. Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Advance Media

1st Place – Aristide Economopoulos – NJ Advance Media – “Foggy Sunny Kickball”

2nd Place -David Goldman – The Associated Press – “Hush Hour”

3rd Place – David Handschuh – Independent – “Little Red Lighthouse”

HM – Gary Hershorn – Independent for Getty Images – “In Front of the Rising Moon”

HM – Thomas A. Ferrara – Newsday – “American Rain”

EA – Al Bello – Getty Images – “Belmont Morning”

EA – David Handschuh – Independent – “The City Game”

EA – David Goldman – The Associated Press – “Idle”

EA – Al Bello – Getty Images – “Parking Lot Workout”

EA – Ed Murray – NJ Advance Media – “Walking”

Portrait

An image of veteran Charles Lowell is projected onto the home he shared with his wife, Alice, for 30 years as she stands at left with her daughter, Susan Kenney, in Hardwick, Mass. Saturday, May 2, 2020. Lowell, a U.S. Air Force veteran and resident of the Soldier’s Home in Holyoke, Mass., died from the COVID-19 virus at the age of 78. Seeking to capture moments of private mourning at a time of global isolation, the photographer used a projector to cast large images of veterans on to the homes as their loved ones are struggling to honor them during a lockdown that has sidelined many funeral traditions. David Goldman/Associated Press

1st Place – David Goldman – The Associated Press – “Legacy of a Life Lost:”

2nd Place – Justin Lane – European Presse Agency – “Weinstein’s Trial”

3rd Place – Thomas A. Ferrara – Newsday – “Jazz Crusin’’

HM – Al Bello – Getty Images – “Shadowboxing on the Beach”

HM – David Goldman – The Associated Press – “Scars of Summer Violence”

EA – Sarah Stier – Getty Images – “Home Gym Portrait”

EA – Marcus Santos – Independent – “Pastor Ricardo Perez Watches Over His Flock”

EA – Steve Pfost – Newsday – “LIRR”

EA – Debra Rothenberg – Independent – “Young Boxer in Havana, Cuba”

Animal

Paul Zucconi uses a snow blower to clear his driveway as this dog, Stryker, chases after the snow on Mobrey Lane in Smithtown Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. Barry Sloan/Newsday

1st Place – Barry Sloan – Newsday – “Stryker’s Snow Snacks”

2nd Place – Gary Hershorn – Independent for Getty Images, “Ducklings”

3rd Place – Ray Stubblebine – Retired Reuters – “So Near… So Far”

HM – Bruce Bennett – Getty Images – “Brody”

HM – Julio Cortez – The Associated Press – “Catfished”

EA – Thomas Ferrara – Newsday – “For Meeeeeee?”

EA – Aristide Economopoulos – NJ Advance Media – “In the Dog House”

EA – David Handschuh – Independent – “It’s Small but we call it Home”

EA – Al Bello – Getty Images – “Playtime”

EA – Julio Cortez – The Associated Press – “In Flight”

Sports Action

Mar 6, 2020; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Caris LeVert (22) goes horizontal as he shoots against San Antonio Spurs point guard Derrick White (4) and shooting guard Lonnie Walker (1) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Brad Penner/Independent

1st Place – Brad Penner – Independent – “Horizontal LeVert”

2nd Place – Jim McIsaac – Independent for Newsday – “Touchdown”

3rd Place – Julio Cortez – The Associated Press – “Crash”

HM – Al Bello – Getty Images – “Forehand Stretch”

HM – Bruce Bennett – Getty Images – “Hockey Symmetry”

EA – Porter Binks – Freelance – “Rebound Dance”

EA – Brad Penner – Freelance – “Air Mims”

EA – Saed Hindash – NJ Advance Media – “Interception”

EA – Bill Kostroun – Independent – “Gunner”

EA – J. Conrad Williams – Newsday – “Storm Surge”

EA – J. Conrad Williams – Newsday – “Fleet Footed”

EA – Brad Penner – Freelance – “Judgeian Blast”

Sports Feature

Naomi Osaka of Japan looks on during her Women’s Singles third round match against Marta Kostyuk of the Ukraine on Day Five of the 2020 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 04, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images

1st Place – Al Bello – Getty Images – “Osaka’s Hair”

2nd Place – Andrew Mills – NJ Advance Media – “Giants Yield 8 Sacks”

3rd Place – Andrew Mills – NJ Advance Media – “State Champion Takes a Knee to Pray”

HM – Bruce Bennett – Getty Images – “Mika Scores Five”

HM – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “Covid-19”

EA – Al Bello – Getty Images – “Garage Workout”

EA – Saed Hindash – NJ Advance Media – “Happy Dance”

EA – J. Conrad Williams – Newsday – “Autograph hunters”

EA – Michael Stobe – Independent – “From Above”

Sports Picture Story

Adam Ondra is the best rock climber in the world. He has completed more difficult routes than anyone, including some climbs that were considered impossible before he came along. But to win Olympic gold, he needed to learn a new way to climb. Fast. And Ondra, in the prime of his career, decided that head- to- head competition up man- made routes should be his next conquest. But just getting to the Olympics might be the hardest route he has taken. There were tears of disappointment, screams of pain and outbursts of joy. Could the world’s best climber come out on top again? Adam Ondra trains at Speed Climbing which is his weakest of the three disciplines for the new Olympic Sports, Sport Climbing at Duro Climbing Gym in Brno, Czech on Nov. 5th, 2019. Sport Climbing was going to debut at Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The story was published on March 6th, 2020. Chang Lee/New York Times

1st Place – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “Adam Ondra’s Race to the Top”

2nd Place – Saed Hindash – NJ Advance Media – “Two-time champion”

3rd Place – Al Bello – Getty Images – “Gym Goes Virtual to Adapt to Corona Pandemic”

HM – Al Bello – Getty Images – “Local Amateur Boxers Continue to Train During Pandemic”

HM – Aristide Economopoulos – NJ Advance Media – “2020 Westminster Dog Show”

 Face of New York

People celebrated Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Joe Biden’s win at Times Square in New York City, NY, on Nov. 7th, 2020. Joe Biden was declared the winner of US Presidential Election against US President Donald Trump on Nov. 7th, 2020. Chang Lee/New York Times

1st Place – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “The Victory”

2nd Place – Justin Lane – European Presse Agency – “Christmas in New York”

3rd Place – David Handschuh – Independent – “Upper West Side”

HM – Todd Maisel – Independent – “One Down, Hundreds to Go”

HM – Debra Rothenberg – Independent – “Cooling Off”

EA – Aristide Economopoulos – NJ Advance Media – “Surf Fun”

EA – Aristide Economopoulos – NJ Advance Media – “Nathan’s Kiss”

EA – Aristide Economopoulos – NJ Advance Media – “Summertime on Pier”

EA – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “I Love NY”

EA – Todd Maisel – Independent – “Showing his Colors”

Campaign 2020 

Barbara Fischer, 76, watched from inside her car as Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden encouraged Floridians to make a plan to vote at Miramar Regional Park in Miramar, FL, on Oct. 13th, 2020. Chang Lee/ New York Times

1st Place – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “Joe Biden”

2nd Place – Craig Ruttle – Independent – “Overwhelmed”

3rd Place – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “Biden Harris”

HM – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “Bernie Sanders”

HM – Patrick Benic – UPI – “Biden Celebrates in Washington”

EA – Craig Ruttle – Independent for Newsday – “Get Well Soon, Mr. President”

EA – Saed Hindash – NJ Advance Media – “Catch”

A Global Pandemic: COVID-19

Olivia Grant (R) hugs her grandmother, Mary Grace Sileo through a plastic drop cloth hung up on a homemade clothes line during Memorial Day Weekend on May 24, 2020 in Wantagh, New York. It is the first time they have had contact of any kind since the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic lockdown started in late February. Al Bello/Getty Images

1st Place – Al Bello – Getty Images – “Pandemic Hug”

2nd Place – Kevin C. Downs – Redux Pictures – “No-one is Listening to Us”

3rd Place – Steve Pfost – Newsday – “Mom”

HM – Alejandra Villa Loarca – Newsday – “Precautions”

HM – Jeffrey Basinger – Newsday – “We’ve never seen this much death in such a short amount of time”

EA – Jennifer S. Altman – Independent – “Silhouette of Support”

EA – Joshua Bright – Independent – “Untitled”

EA – Michael Stobe – Independent – “Garage Gym Warrior”

EA – David Goldman – The Associated Press – “Virus Burial”

EA – Lloyd Mitchell – Independent – “Untitled”

EA – Mary DiBiase Blaich – Independent – “Eye of Rememberance”

EA – Patrick Benic – UPI – “Flags at Sunset for Covid Victim”

EA – Lee Weissman – Northwell Health – “Compassion and Strength”

EA – Julio Cortez – The Associated Press – “Scary Test”

EA – Craig Ruttle – Independent for Newsday – “One of the Finest Lost”

EA – Lee Weissman – Northwell Health – “1,000 Strong”

EA – Lee Weissman – Northwell Health – “Community Celebrates Heroes”

EA – Justin Lane – European Presse Agency – “Funeral Home Overwhelmed with Coronavirus Victims”

EA – Marcus Santos – Independent – “South Bronx’s Station 14”

EA – Steve Pfost – Newsday – “Disinfect”

A Global Pandemic: COVID-19 PICTURE STORY

Special units of firefighters and E.M.T.s in Paterson, N.J., respond to 911 calls for suspected coronavirus, entering homes and putting themselves at risk. The grueling day offered a glimpse into the chaotic, risk-filled lives of emergency workers who are reaching directly into the jaws of the pandemic. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’d almost rather go to a fire call,” said Brian Hirschmanner, a firefighter and E.M.T. “At least you can see what you’re fighting. And it eventually goes out.” But after almost one year, COVID-19 is still taking thousands of lives everyday, without an end in sight. Paterson Firefighter/EMT, Steve Fatovic, investigated the situation talking to a family member of the suspected PUI (Patient Under Investigation) calls in Paterson during Coronavirus Pandemic in Paterson, NJ, on March 24th, 2020. He rushed and left his medical bag that had his Hazmat Suit at the fire house and had to wear a paper suit which ripped later. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

1st Place – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “12 Fraught Hours With E.M.T.s in a City Under Siege”

2nd Place – Jeffrey Basinger – Newsday – “The Other Side of the Curve”

3rd Place – David Goldman – The Associated Press – “A Small Cemetery Copes”

HM – Hiroko Masuike – The New York Times – “Coping with Coronavirus”

HM – Justin Lane – European Presse Agency – “Coronavirus in New York”

EA – Bryan R. Smith – Independent – “Queens Funeral Home Works To Move Over 30 COVID-19 Victims To Upstate Crematorium”

EA – Marcus Santos – Independent – “Covid Battleground in the South Bronx”

EA – Lee Weissman – Northwell Health – “Covid Unit Life”

Society’s Reckoning: Protests & Movements 

Protestors march in Manhattan during a rally calling for justice over the death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor,.Friday, June 5, 2020, in New York. Alejandra Villa-Loarca/Newsday

1st Place – Alejandra Villa Loarca – Newsday – “Protest Reflection”

2nd Place – Julio Cortez – The Associated Press – “Distressed”

3rd Place – John McCarten – Independent – “Arrravated Assault”

HM – J. Conrad Williams – Newsday – “Justice for George Floyd”

HM – Seth Harrison – The Journal News/USA Today Network – “George Floyd protester”

EA – Stephen Yang – Freelance – “Chokehold”

EA – Chang W. Lee – The New York Times – “Don’t Shoot”

EA – Kevin Wilson – Independent – “Dress To Impress Protest for George Floyd”

EA – J. Conrad Williams – Newsday – “Brooklyn Bridge”

EA – Debbie Egan-Chin – Independent for Newsday – “Black Lives Matter”

EA – Craig Ruttle – Independent – “A Brief Moment of Solidarity”

EA – Stefan Jeremiah – Independent – “Outdoor Dining”

Multimedia – Short Form (under 5 minutes)

They live off Route 248, a road that cuts through a diverse array of communities while traversing Northampton County. Saed Hindash/ For lehighvalleylive.com

1st Place –  In Nazareth, a Biden supporter and a Trump supporter tout need for fairness 
Saed Hindash – NJ Advance Media / Lehighvalleylive.com

Feedback: We gave it first place because it felt like a fresh take on a well worn story, like dropping in on a series of candid, calm conversations about something we’re used to seeing in a highly charged way. It was also well edited and structured in a clever way.

2nd Place – WHY THEY MARCH
Jeffrey Basinger/Raychel Brightman – Newsday

Feedback: Well done story using lots of footage from different marches woven together into a cohesive story. It was smartly structured and edited to tell a story of protest in a new way. 

3rd Place – Beloved 94-year-old hot dog lady is still working after months of COVID quarantine
Andre Malok – NJ Advance Media

Feedback: An amazing character! It was well filmed and edited to allow her personality to shine through. 

HM – N.J. farm is reviving the hard cider industry with help from the formerly incarcerated
Andre Malok – NJ Advance Media

HM – Bound Brook athlete with immune disease forced to quit football due to risk of COVID-19
Andre Malok – NJ Advance Media


Multimedia – Long Form (over 5 minutes)

It’s been 10 years since police began discovering bodies at Gilgo Beach. Investigators didn’t know it then, but the findings would open up a chapter in what has become the region’s biggest unsolved mystery: What happened to the 10 people that were found? Raychel Brightman /Newsday

1st Place – Gilgo Beach murders: 10 years later
Raychel Brightman – Newsday

Feedback: A great story that grabbed our attention and held it until the end. It also deserved first place because it took an event from the past, something that was not inherently visual and made it come alive. Excellent edit.

2nd Place – PLUME DECADES OF DECEIT
Jeffrey Basinger – Newsday

Feedback: A well reported, important story that somehow found a narrative arc and visuals in a story from the past. Great use of animation and motion graphics to make so many documents come alive.

3rd Place – DR. MICHELLE REED STORY
Raychel Brightman – Newsday

Feedback: Great perspective and clever use of video diaries to gain access to a character who was inaccessible. It humanized a story that needs a face.

HM – RED ZONE
Jeffrey Basinger – Newsday

HM – Survivor of COVID-19 feels blessed and lucky to be alive
Andre Malok – NJ Advance Media


STILL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST JUDGES

Photography Judges are Alexander Horvath, Marguerite Schropp Lucarelli and Ozier Muhammad 

Alex Horvath is an award-winning photographer and photo editor. Currently a staff photographer at The Bakersfield Californian since 2019. Prior to that he was Deputy Photography Editor at Newsday, working with a team of six deputy picture editors covering local, business, sports, nation and world news.

Previously he was the Director of Photography at the Californian for over 13 years. He was also a night picture editor for the Buffalo News running the night picture desk, responsible for daily photo report. Worked with designers on presentation and supervised photo staff of twelve. Alex also was a photographer/picture editor for the Mansfield News Journal.

He graduated from the University of Bowling Green with a Bachelor of Science Journalism. He lives in California with his wife and 3 children

Marguerite Schropp Lucarelli has spent her entire career at Sports Illustrated magazine, working on the publications Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Kids, and Sports Illustrated on Campus.

Currently she’s the picture editor for Sports Illustrated, where she focuses on the photography coverage of the NBA and NCAA basketball, and the director of photography for Sports Illustrated Kids and Sports Illustrated on Campus. She focuses on all portraits for both publications and oversees the game action assigned.

Schropp has edited for five olympic games, 21 NBA finals, and 21 NCAA basketball final fours. She received the 2002 National Press Photographers Association second-place award for Magazine Sports Feature Story and won the 2014 Henry R. Luce Award for best multimedia story.

She lives and works in New York with her husband Tony and their two children, Anthony and Eileen.

Ozier Muhammad graduated with a B.A., in photography from Columbia College in Chicago. He has been a photojournalist for more than 3 decades. His first job was as a staff photographer at Ebony Magazine. Ozier joined The Charlotte Observer in 1978, went to Newsday in 1980 and has been at the New York Times since 1992. 

Ozier has covered Africa since 1974. First for Ebony, going to Dar Es Salaam for the Sixth Pan African Congress, and in 1977 to Lagos Nigeria for the 2nd World Festival of African Arts and Crafts, FESTAC. Other locations for Newsday were: Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Kenya. For The Times: the first non-racial election in South Africa, in which Nelson Mandela became president. Ozier has also covered stories in Guinee (Amadou Diallo’s funeral), the presidential election in Nigeria in 1999, and an alleged al Qaeda training camp in central Somalia in 2001. Ozier was in Afghanistan just after the fall of the Taliban and a year later was embedded with the Marines when the war in Iraq began. In addition, Ozier has also covered Times stories in Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Congo, and Morocco. Ozier went to New Orleans immediately after the hurricane Katrina evacuation effort began. More recently, Ozier spent several months traveling with then U.S. Senator Barack Obama during his presidential campaign and the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. 

Ozier was born in Chicago and lives in Harlem. He’s married and has two children.

MULTIMEDIA CONTEST JUDGES

Multimedia Judges Kayle Hope and Bob Sacha

Kayle Hope is a video journalist at NationSwell where she makes short form documentaries about people finding solutions to America’s biggest social and economic challenges. She also teaches visual storytelling at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism and Hunter College. Most recently, Kayle produced NationSwell’s first video series about the opioid epidemic in Huntington, W.V. 

Before joining NationSwell, Kayle led media literacy workshops and produced independent documentaries in Cambodia, China, Bhutan, Nepal and India. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Fast Company, NBC and the Nation. Kayle graduated from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

Bob Sacha is a director, cinematographer, editor, teacher, photographer and a collaborator on visual journalism projects. He created the video for projects that have won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, a National Emmy for New Approaches to News &  Documentary Programming. a Webby and the first gold medal ever given by the Society for News Design. He teamed up with Blue Chalk  as the the director of photography for the New York Times series, Living City, about  New York’s infrastructure.  BlindSight, a documentary short about a group of blind photographers that he directed, shot & produced had its world premiere at DOCNYC, the country’s largest documentary festival. He is currently an Associate Professor of Video Storytelling at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.  His new passion and focus is 360 Video/VR and volumetric capture for journalism.