Tom Kennedy Leaving Washingtonpost.com

 

By Donald R. Winslow
© 2009 News Photographer magazine

ARLINGTON, VA (February 4, 2009) – "I'm going to be figuring out the next phase of my life," Tom Kennedy, the managing editor of multimedia for Washingtonpost.com, said today after word of his resignation spread through the journalism community.

"After 11 years here I think I've done about all I can do to to make what we're doing a success, and now it's time for something new," the former director of photography for National Geographic magazine told News Photographer magazine today. He'll depart from the Post's digital edition on February 13.

"I've come to realize that in recent years my greatest joys have been when I'm engaging with people," Kennedy said today. Across the industry, he's been recognized as a pioneer in multimedia photojournalism for the work he and the team at Washingtonpost.com have produced.

"My feelings right now are that I am very interested in a lot of the developments that are happening in the world right now. It's going to be interesting to see how the media landscape is playing out. Right now, time is too valuable to squander. I thought about staying on through summer, but I have a daughter who is leaving for college in about six months and may go overseas, but I wanted to stay through our inauguration coverage and to go out on a high note."

Kennedy, 58, early in his career was a photojournalist at the Gainesville Sun, the Orlando Sentinel, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. He joined NPPA in 1974.

"What I've discovered is that I really enjoy motivating people, getting them fired up, helping people work to find solutions and maybe eliminate some of the problems that seem to be holding back visual journalism," Kennedy said. "I think that right now, there are more opportunities for me outside any one organization than inside." He said he has some speaking engagements lined up, and is looking at other opportunties where he might be involved with teaching or new media projects.

"There are a lot of approaches to storytelling, but many of them are flawed on their face. What we're going to do in the future is a matter of figuring this out."

The work done by Kennedy and his Post multimedia team has been recognized with local and national Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, four successive Edward R. Murrow Awards, two Cine Golden Eagle awards, and many video and editing shooting awards from the National Press Photographers Association, the White House News Photographers Association, and the Society of News Design.

 

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