NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – Julie Jones, a lecturer at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, was recently recognized with the 2024 Founder Award, the highest honor bestowed by the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA).
“This award kind of hit me when I was about to step up and give my acceptance speech,” said Jones. “When I went to accept it, I was struck by the depth of my career. It meant a lot to me at the end. This is crazy, the journey I’ve been on.”
The NPPA chose Jones based on factors ranging from her career accomplishments and her contributions to journalism. Among those considered for the award were visual journalists, editors or team leaders who “rise to the top of the profession by their conduct, initiative, leadership, skill and devotion to duty.”
“Jones is a dedicated educator at Gaylord College,” a NPPA release said. “With a strong foundation in the principles of the NPPA, she fosters a dynamic learning environment where creativity, ethics, and technical proficiency converge. Under her guidance, students not only master the craft of journalism but also develop a keen understanding of its impact on society.”
Jones’ experience in photojournalism spans multiple decades. She began her career in 1983 with KOBF in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Following work in the Phoenix market for ABC. Jones continued her academic journey by earning a doctorate in mass communications from the University of Minnesota in 2003.
Jones has been with OU since 2008 Her connection to the university, however, goes back further.
“This honor let me step back and see the whole of my career,” said Jones. “I’m so fortunate to have the career I’ve had on the professional and academic side.
“I came here in 1983 to attend the National Press Photographers Workshop (now known as the News Video Workshop),” she said. “I was on this campus at an event, and it changed my whole career, and it put me on this path. To be able to come back to OU was a great opportunity, to come home – to the place I became the storyteller that I became.”
The experience inspired Jones that “journalism was a noble cause” and cemented her passion for both OU and her career. She became a faculty member of the event in 1993. Now, as a part of Gaylord College, she now leads the same workshop for the next generation of aspiring visual journalists.
Learn more about the NPPA and its Founders Award or visit ou.edu/gaylord to learn more about the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, one of the top media programs in the country.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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