Write-Off crown goes to Old Bridge HS journalist
Fall Press Day 2011 brought almost 900 high school students to Rutgers University today to study the craft of journalism and for one group, to compete for the title of Write-Off champion. Below is the winning Write-Off entry, chosen from this year’s 21 contestants’ entries. Kaitlin Chaung of Old Bridge HS took first place; Nisha Dosai of Bergenfield HS won second place and Alexandra Glembocki of Indian Hills High School won third place. Honorable mention went to Brian Murphy of Communications HS in central New Jersey.
By Kaitlin Chaung
Old Bridge High School
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Although the current generation courses through an age of social media, the power of the photograph was demonstrated at the 2011 Garden State Scholastic Press Association’s Fall Press Day at Rutgers University.
Bergen Record photographer Tom Franklin delivers the keynote speech at Fall Press Day 2011. Photo: Susan Dougherty
More than 200 journalism and yearbook students sat in stunned silence as a slideshow detailing the devastation of Sept. 11 played before their eyes.
Narrating the slideshow was Thomas Franklin, an American photojournalist who is best known for his photograph, “Raising the Flag at Ground Zero.”
“Photojournalists take photos that tell a story,” said Franklin. “The human element means everything. You have to tell stories that are about people and affect people.”
Franklin detailed his experiences as a photojournalist, explaining that he covers news events and feature articles and often spends long periods of time with his subject.
“You don’t shoot the same picture over and over,” said Franklin. “You have to cover a wide range of shots to get all the details.”
The white projection screen behind Franklin illustrated each one of his points. The audience chuckled at the bright, in-depth shots of children and felt the suffering from his portraits of elderly hospital patients.
But the room sat in silent reverie as the iconic and dramatic photos from Sept. 11 were shown.
“I remember the chill I felt when I saw the burning building,” said Franklin. “Tears filled my eyes and burned down my cheeks … I had to hide behind my camera.”
But, he added, his job was to document and record history.
One of the most memorable photos taken that day was a picture of three rescue workers lifting an American flag amidst the rubble, one that was taken by Franklin himself.
“The fireman lifted the flag and I took the picture,” he said. “And that was it.”
The picture went on to become an iconic image that gained immense popularity and exposure.
The picture was gaining attention but it lived a life of its own,” said Franklin. “It was the events that changed me.”
Franklin also added that the utilization of multimedia played an important role in his work. Multimedia, such as video and audio, allows for richer storytelling, Franklin said.
He demonstrated this with his own experience in his slideshow entitled, “20 Years in 3 Minutes.” Photos of joy and devastation and passion played along with equally emotional music that lent a beautiful dramatic effect, said Megan McEvoy, a senior from Old Bridge High School.
Franklin concluded with one final 9/11 show.
“I don’t take pictures,” he said. “I make pictures.”
