Virginian-Pilot photographer takes first at POYI contest – Columbia Missourian

After hours of deliberation, four judges selected Stephen M. Katz of The Virginian-Pilot as the Newspaper Photographer of the Year Friday night.

“His pictures had diversity,” said Jeanie Adams-Smith, an associate professor of photojournalism at Western Kentucky University and one of the judges for the 65th annual Pictures of the Year International contest. “He could look at a big place at a microcosmic level.” She said that his strong stories, diversity, technical excellence and single frames stood out in his portfolio and separated him from the other photographers.

Scott Strazzante and Kuni Takahashi, both of the Chicago Tribune, placed second and third respectively.

Check it out here.