Photo-J News

Editor & Publisher Names Top Photographs

This is from a recent issue of Editor and Publisher:

Little did we know when we called for entries for Editor & Publisher's second Photos of the Year contest back in August that terrorist attacks on America would become the picture story of the young century. It's safe to say that the area around the World Trade Center in New York has become the most photographed crime scene in history.

It's no surprise, then, that the aftermath of September 11 serves as the subject of E&P's grand prize winner as Photo of the Year. Yet, with so many other haunting images entered in the competition, Thomas E. Franklin's achievement is all the more remarkable.

E&P's contest drew a tremendous response from across the country, and as far away as Guam, with more than 600 photos entered in three categories ? breaking news, features, and sports ? and four circulation classes. Besides the grand prize, which comes with a $500 award, there are 12 other winners.

This competition emerged from our Photo of the Week feature, which appears in `Hot Type.' We encourage you to submit pictures for this weekly honor as often as you'd like, with an extra incentive: each winner will automatically be entered in next year's Photos of the Year contest.

For submissions, e-mail hottype@editorandpublisher.com

Although this year's top winner, Tom Franklin, had worked at a newspaper while studying fine arts at the State University of New York at Purchase, he had his sights set on creative photography ? not the mayhem of daily news ? when he was graduated in 1988. `But I also wanted to make a living,' recalls Franklin.

The photographer freelanced for several newspapers as well as The Associated Press before landing at The Record in Hackensack, N.J., eight years ago. "The world of photojournalism showed me what a strong, visual image could do to convey a message," he says.

Thanks to Franklin, a truly powerful message was indeed conveyed ? around the world ? in September, when it mattered the most."

-- Greg Mitchell and Joe Strupp, Editor & Publisher

View winning photographers at: www.editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/features_columns/photo_contest.jsp.