Workshop Participants
Kenny Irby
Director of Community Relations & Diversity Programs
Kenny Irby is Senior Faculty, Director of Community Relations and Diversity at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is an integral figure in visual journalism education, known for his insightful knowledge of photographic storytelling, innovative management ideas, and steadfast ethical thinking. The founder of Poynter's photojournalism program, he teaches seminars and consults in the areas of photojournalism, leadership, ethics, and diversity.
Irby has traveled to Russia, South Africa, Singapore, Jamaica and Denmark preaching excellence in photojournalism. He has presented on the 2003 Flying Short Course, served as photo manager at two Olympic Games, chaired the Unity '99 Visual Task Force and is Poynter's representative to the Best of Photojournalism Committee. He’s also served as a speaker and faculty member at The Eddie Adams Workshop.
He contributed as a photo editor to three Pulitzer Prize-winning projects while at Newsday; has been a juror for the American Society of Newspaper Editor's Community Service Photojournalism Award, the National Journalism Awards, the Society for News Design Annual Competition, the Pictures of the Year International Competition, and the White House News Photographers' Competition. He’s a recipient of numerous NPPA awards including the 1999 Joseph Costa Award for outstanding initiative, leadership, and service in photojournalism, and the 2002 President’s Award.
Before joining Poynter, Irby was a photographer and deputy director of photography, for Newsday, Inc.; and a photographer and assistant photo editor, atThe Oakland Press. He holds a B.S., in photojournalism, from Boston University; and is a Multicultural Management Fellow, at the University of Missouri.
Kenny participated in the August 2013 MediaStorm Methodology Workshop. He had the following to say about his experience:
My week in DUMBO, Brooklyn attending the MediaStorm methodology workshop was a refreshing exploration of authentic storytelling through a new lens. The course was greatly enriched by the diverse group of life-long-learners from six countries-- each adding as much to the workshop as they absorbed.
Not enough can be said about Brian and his colleagues for masterfully deconstructing their mission, vision and enterprise strategies with diligent simplicity, consistent passion and dedicated skill.
The teacher in me applauds MediaStorm’s commitment to documenting relevant untold stories that are wildly neglected by the mainstream. Giving voice to the voiceless and shining light in dark places continue to establish the time honored foundation of compelling storytelling.
And the visual journalist in me is all the more inspired after a week of witnessing such dedication to excellence, engagement and entrepreneurship. Thanks for allowing us to visualize some of the innovative possibilities present at the intersection of journalism and evolving technology.