Michael A. Blair
Columbus, OH 43215
Home: (440) 339-2823
Email: m.a.blair@sbcglobal.net

 

SUMMARY

High energy visual journalist with vast professional experience in photography, video and newsroom training seeking freelance opportunities in and around Ohio.

EXPERIENCE

01/24/2017 – Present
State of Ohio – Columbus, OH

  • Full-time photographer
  • Responsible for providing photography, video and archiving support for the Ohio Development Services Agency including the Governor’s Office and Tourism Ohio.

06/04/2016 – 01/16/2017
Ellie Vayo Photography – Mentor, OH

  • Full-time producer
  • Responsible for providing photography, video, graphic design, retouching and archiving support for bustling portrait and event studio.

08/15/2011 – 02/04/2016
21st-Century Media – Willoughby/Lorain, OH

  • Full-time video lead/multimedia journalist.
  • Responsibilities included producing video and multimedia content for The News-Herald and The Morning Journal.
    Led training for editorial in best video practices.
    Provided photo and video coverage from Cleveland professional sports teams.
    Implemented active social media video sharing platform, managed company video channels.
  • Accomplishments:
    • Led a team of journalists in two newsrooms creating award winning multimedia packages.

10/15/1997 – 08/14/2011
The News-Herald – Willoughby, OH

  • Full-time visual journalist covering all of northeast Ohio, including the city of Cleveland. Responsibilities included covering area’s NBA, NFL, and MLB professional sports franchises. Circulation: 40,000
  • Accomplishments:
    • 2008 Associated Press Ohio Best Online Photojournalist-Div IV.
    • 2007 Journal Register Company Photographer of the Year.
    • 2006 Associated Press Ohio Best Photographer Div IV.
    • 2002 Ohio Society of Professional Journalist Best Photographer (Under 100,000 Circulation)

09/13/1994 – 10/14/1997
The Morning Journal – Lorain, OH

  • Full-time staff photographer for a full color daily covering a four-county area in Northern Ohio. Circulation: 30,000

SKILLS

  • Macintosh and PC computers, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Lightroom,
  • Adobe Photoshop CC, Photo Mechanic, WordPress, Saxotech content management systems,
  • Microsoft Office, Canon and Nikon HD DSLR camera systems, studio and location lighting,
  • Pocketwizard wireless remotes, and Nikon Wireless File Transfer.

EDUCATION

  • Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. Bachelor of Fine Arts Photography, photojournalism major with minor in environmental studies.
  • Brooks Institute of Photography, Ventura, CA. Platypus Workshop, ten-day video bootcamp.
  • NPPA Multimedia Immersion Workshop, Syracuse University.

HONORS

  • Associated Press Ohio: 2nd Place Best Use Multimedia 2012
  • Associated Press Ohio: 3rd Place Best Use Multimedia 2012
  • The Press Club of Cleveland: 1st Place Place Portrait Personality 2010
  • The Press Club of Cleveland: 2nd Place Pictorial 2010
  • Associated Press Ohio: Best Online Photojournalist 2009
  • Ohio Excellence in Journalism: 2nd Place Spot News 2009
  • Ohio Excellence in Journalism: 2nd Place Best online feature (video) 2009
  • Associated Press Ohio: Best Online Photojournalist 2008
  • Associated Press Ohio:Best General News Photo 2008
  • The Press Club of Cleveland: 2nd Place New Media Imaging 2008
  • The Press Club of Cleveland:1st Place Single Illustration 2007
  • Journal Register Company: Photographer of the Year 2007
  • The Press Club of Cleveland: 1st Place Spot News Photo 2007
  • Associated Press Ohio: Best Photographer 2006
  • Journal Register Company: Best Photographer 2006
  • NPPA MNCC 2nd place Photo Illustration September 2006
  • NPPA MNCC 3rd place Feature Photo July 2006
  • Suburban Newspapers of America: 2nd Place Feature Photo 2006
  • The Press Club of Cleveland: 1st Place Photo Illustration 2006
  • The Press Club of Cleveland: 1st Place Spot News Photo 2006
  • Ohio News Photographer Association: 1st Place Spot News Photo 2006
  • Associated Press Ohio: 1st Place Spot News Photo 2006
  • Associated Press Ohio: 2nd Place Spot News Photo 2006
  • Associated Press Ohio: 3rd Place Photo Essay 2006
  • Associated Press Ohio: HM Photo Essay 2006
  • Suburban Newspapers of America: 3rd Place news Photo 2006
  • The Press Club of Cleveland: 1st Place Pictorial Photo 2005
  • Suburban Newspapers of America: 2nd Place news Photo 2005
  • Suburban Newspapers of America: 3rd Place Sports Photo 2005
  • The Press Club of Cleveland: 2nd Place Pictorial Photo 2004
  • The Press Club of Cleveland: 2nd Place Sports Photo 2004
  • Ohio News Photographer Association: 3rd Place General News Photo 2004
  • Associated Press Ohio: 3rd Place Photo Essay 2003
  • Ohio Society of Professional Journalists: Best Photographer 2003
  • Associated Press Ohio: 2nd Place Best Photographer 2002
  • Associated Press Ohio: 2nd Place General News Photo 2002
  • Associated Press Ohio: 3rd Place Photo Essay 2002
  • Suburban Newspapers of America: 1st Place Feature 2002
  • Suburban Newspapers of America: 3rd Place Feature Picture Story 2002
  • The Press Club of Cleveland: 1st Place Pictorial 2002
  • Associated Press Ohio: Best Photographer 2001
  • Ohio Society of Professional Journalists: Best Photographer 2002
  • Associated Press Ohio: 2nd Place Photo Essay 2001
  • Suburban Newspapers of America: 1st Place Feature Picture Story 2001
  • Ohio News Photographer Association: 3rd Place News Picture Story 2000