Freelance photographer for many high-profile clients such as the Associated Press, Getty Images and The New York Times, Leigh Vogel will share industry tips and career advice on multimedia storytelling with students at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication’s 2021 Futures Forum at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, in the Memorial Union’s Cardinal Room.
Vogel will be joined by two other professional female photographers for the panel – both Greenlee School graduates. Emily Kestel (’18, journalism and mass communication) is a visual journalist and covers women’s and gender issues for the Fearless initiative at the Business Record in Des Moines, and Kelsey Kremer (’13, journalism and mass communication, communication studies) is an Emmy award-winning photojournalist for the Des Moines Register.
Visuals have always played a role in the news media, and today the value of visual storytelling is more important than ever with the ever-expanding online media environment. Join three visual storytellers to hear about what they did that led to their success and learn how you can prepare for a career as a photojournalist and multimedia storyteller.
Hosted by Iowa State University’s Greenlee School, the in-person panel will also be livestreamed via YouTube Live. The event is open to students, alumni and the community.
An open house and dessert reception will follow the panel in 172 Hamilton Hall from 4:30-5:30 p.m. where Vogel will give a presentation at 4:45 p.m. highlighting the Women Photojournalists of Washington (WPOW) 15th Annual Juried Exhibition, a traveling photography exhibition that showcases female photojournalist’s work. Attendees will be able to view the 25 winning photos during this time.
Vogel is a board member and past president of WPOW, a nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about the role of women, and those who identify as women, in visual journalism and fostering their professional success. She is a licensed drone pilot, credentialed to photograph at the White House and Capitol Hill, and is a Photography Fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Social Impact Communication where she also received their Social Impact Award. The award recognizes commitment to positive social change.
Vogel has developed a guide to help nonprofit organizations communicate strategically via imagery, and she works on animal rights and welfare issues. She is a photographer and strategic communications advisor for The World Bank and is an adjunct instructor at the Isaacson School for New Media at Colorado Mountain College.
She earned a bachelor’s in communications (1995) from Boston University and a Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations and Corporate Communications (2011) from Georgetown University. Vogel also took classes in the photojournalism program at Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington, D.C. She worked for a few years in marketing but eventually turned full-time to photojournalism cover breaking news, politics and summits worldwide.
The WPOW 15th Annual Juried Exhibition will be open to the public from Nov. 15 through Nov. 19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The gallery features 25 standout photographs and three multimedia pieces by members of WPOW from the past year.
The Futures Forum is an annual event hosted by the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. It connects industry leaders in advertising, journalism and mass communication and public relations with Iowa State University students. The event is sponsored by William F. and Linda Z. Tubbs.