James Thompson Photojournalism Contest

The Front Page Foundation and the ETSPJ will honor local photojournalist and photographic conservationist James Thompson (1880–1976) with an award evening recognizing students from the University of Tennessee College of Communication and Information and Pellissippi State Community College Media Technologies Program. 

James Thompson’s photographic archives are held at the University of Tennessee library. The goal is to use his work to educate students and local media professionals on the impact, influence, and importance of photojournalism and raise scholarship funds for students.

Working with UT professor Robert Heller and Pellissippi State professor Ron Goodrich, the Foundation is sponsoring  a contest for photography students. Saturday, February 22, is the designated contest day in the 2025 spring semester. 

The photos will be judged by local professional photojournalists from print and broadcast. Winning students will be recognized during the awards evening at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 24. 

The evening will recognize James Thompson with a lifetime achievement plaque. The awards evening will be held at the University of Tennessee College of Communications and Information building, 4th floor Scripps Lab and feature guest speaker Dr. Michael Martinez.

Dr. Michael Martinez

The Front Page Foundation is honored to have Dr. Michael Martinez as the speaker for the James Thompson Photojournalism Awards. Mike is seasoned journalist and scholar. 

Dr. Martinez turned to academe after working for 26 years as a photojournalist, graphics editor and web producer. 

Dr. Martinez spent his professional career expanding a palette of journalistic skills at four newspapers and a wire service. He worked at the Associated Press in New York, the Louisville Courier-Journal, the Detroit News, the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

In 2000, Dr. Martinez broadened his horizons and moved into the world of the internet as an online producer.

After covering two Olympics for the Associated Press, Lillehammer 1994 and Atlanta 1996, Dr. Martinez had the opportunity to work for four Olympic Organizing Committees: Sydney 2000, Salt Lake City 2002, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

Dr. Martinez has been active in professional associations throughout his career. He was president of the National Press Photographers Association in 1990. He has been the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ visual task force representative to Unity ’94 and Unity ’99 and in 2005-2006 served as vice president/membership of the Fort Worth Professional Society of Professional Journalists’ chapter.

Join us on Thursday, April 24 as we hear Mike’s inside stories on photojournalism and its impact on our world today.

Contest Details