Jim Colton, the nationally renowned and recently retired photography editor of Sports Illustrated, will visit Kent State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, in the FirstEnergy Auditorium of Franklin Hall.
Colton will discuss the growing impact of sports photography on journalism and will offer a multimedia presentation featuring scenes and stories from the 2012 Summer Olympics. He will share his experiences and advice with photojournalism students and faculty.
The presentation is free and open to the public. Kent State students will tweet live from the event using the hashtag #coltonatkent.
"Having Mr. Colton at JMC will help us fulfill our mission of exposing students to successful professionals who represent diversity in the industries we serve,” said JMC Director Thor Wasbotten.
Colton’s appearance also underscores JMC’s emerging focus on sports photography and sports journalism. This academic year, JMC added a sports photography class to respond to strong student interest. Colton’s appearance is also part of JMC’s Diversity Speakers Series.
A 40-year industry veteran, Colton retired from Sports Illustrated in 2012 after 15 years as photo editor. He began his journalism career in 1972 at the Associated Press. Five years later he joined Newsweek as director of photography. Colton has been honored as one of the 100 most important people in photography by American Photo magazine. He was the Jury Chairman for the World Press Photo Contest in 2005 and received an International Photography Awards “Lucie” for Picture Editor of the Year in 2007. He was named the Magazine Picture Editor of the Year in 2008 by the National Press Photographers Association and was the recipient of the “Focus” award for Lifetime Achievement by the Griffin Museum in 2010.
Colton also serves on the Board of Directors of the prestigious Eddie Adams Workshop, which brings together top photography professionals and 100 students selected on the strength of their portfolios for four days of intense training, mentoring, and collaboration.
“There is nothing like the advice of an editor who has ‘been there’ and seen the work of the very best. It is impossible to fathom the photographs Colton’s eyes have seen,” said David LaBelle, coordinator of JMC’s photojournalism program. “Charged with editing work from the best sports photographers and biggest sporting events, Colton's decisions were seen by millions weekly. When he talks about pictures, every student would do well to listen with both ears and both eyes.”
Colton was invited to Kent State by JMC adjunct professor Scott Galvin, who taught the School’s Sports Photography class and says that Colton was instrumental and inspirational to his career as a photographer. “This is a great opportunity for our students as they move closer to graduation and working in their field of study. Jim Colton has a wealth of experience and knowledge from his years in the photography industry and best of all Colton enjoys giving back,” Galvin said. “Jim Colton was instrumental in helping me be the photographer I am and I strive to be. He is directly linked to my earliest career successes of being published in Sports Illustrated's pictures-of-the week series, Leading Off, when I was only 21.”