Multimedia journalist Tom Kennedy, who recently joined the faculty of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, will be inducted as the Alexia Tsairis Chair for Documentary Photography in a special ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m. in the Newhouse 1 lobby. The event is open to the public.
The Alexia Chair supports photographers whose work contributes to the improvement of the human condition. It was established in the Newhouse School through a generous gift from Peter and Aphrodite Tsairis, the parents of Pan Am 103 victim Alexia Tsairis, who was a Newhouse photojournalism student at the time of her death.
As chair, Kennedy will teach, research and promote documentary photography and photojournalism. He will also serve as a permanent sitting board member of the Alexia Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Understanding, and will run the Alexia International Photo Competition, held at Newhouse each year.
Kennedy brings 35 years of experience in visual journalism, including positions at The Washington Post Co. and National Geographic magazine. He is also a multimedia consultant, working with corporations, nonprofits, universities and other organizations.
Kennedy served as managing editor for multimedia with Washington/Newsweek Interactive for 11 years until 2009. He conceptualized and developed Washingtonpost.com’s first multimedia section, led its redesign effort, and extended content distribution through alternative channels, including podcasts, HD video podcasts and social networking tools. He also managed the photography, video and multimedia groups, overseeing the creation and editing of all visual story content on the site.
He served as director of photography for National Geographic magazine from 1987-97. He was previously deputy graphics editor for the Philadelphia Inquirer, director of photography for the Gainesville Sun and staff photographer for the Orlando Sentinel Star.
He has directed and edited stories that won numerous awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes for feature photography; nine Picture of the Year awards; a national Emmy Award and three local Emmy Awards; nine Ellie Awards; a George Foster Peabody Award; and The Concentra, among others.
For more information about the induction ceremony, contact Jean Brooks at (315) 443-5711 or jabroo01@syr.edu.
