It is clearly a year of change for the annual ONPA convention and seminar in 2011. This year’s event April 7-9 in Columbus will be combined with the still contest judging and be held at The Columbus Dispatch.
Still contest judging will begin Thursday evening and continue as long as needed on Friday. The speakers presentations will all be on Saturday. As in past years the Television and Online Photojournalism contest entries have been sent out for judging with results expected to be in hand before the event.
Speaking as well as judging the still contest will be Danese Kenon, Boyzell Hosey and Ross Taylor. Kenon’s career has progresses from The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, FL to The Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, NY to the Indianapolis Star, where she is currently working as a multimedia journalist.
Boyzell Hosey has served in several capacities at the St. Petersburg Times and promoted to director of photography in 2006. Prior to his move to Florida Hosey was a staff photographer at The State in Columbia, S.C. and the Lima News right here in Ohio and credits Ohio University VISCOM founder Chuck Scott for jump-starting his career.
Ross Taylor is a staff photographer at The Virginia-Pilot who previously worked at the Hartford Courant. Taylor is a former NPPA Region 1 POY and two-time North Carolina POY. Taylor has hugged the Taj Mahal, kissed a 70-year-old woman on Bourbon Street, and swallowed fire at a Coney Island Side Show class. He should feel right at home in Ohio.
Also on the speaking panel is Greg Bledsoe, a reporter and photographer for NBC San Diego. Bledsoe has won multiple national awards from the National Press Photographer’s Association, including finishing as runner-up for the NPPA’s National Solo Video Journalist of the year award. He is also a multi Emmy award winner for writing, editing and reporting. In 2010 Greg was honored with the Golden Mic for editing, and honored by the San Diego Press Club for reporting and photography.
With all activities combined this year officers are hoping there is enough cost savings to the organization to waive registration fees for all. Good news indeed in this day and age. There are several lodging opportunities within walking distance of the Dispatch available as well as a host of others in the surrounding suburbs. You can search on your own with this link. ONPA is hoping to obtain a convention rate for those attending at the nearby Residence Inn by Marriott at 36 E. Gay St.
More details on the schedule of events will be posted as soon as they become available.