2021 POY Judges Announcement

Mike Davis is a visual storytelling consultant, editor, educator, and author. His first authored book, about visual storytelling, is due out in late 2022. Mike directed The Alexia Grants for eight years while holding a chaired faculty position at Syracuse University. Before teaching, he was a visual leader at National Geographic, The White House, and five visually strong U.S. newspapers. Mike was twice named picture editor of the year. He has edited more than 40 photo books and scores of projects of note, taught and lectured in various settings. He hails from a small town in Nebraska.

Cathaleen Curtiss, Director of Photography/Buffalo News. Award-winning photojournalist, editor, and director of photography. In 2021 Curtiss was named Newspaper Picture Editor of the Year for small markets by the National Press Photographers Association. As a photojournalist she has documented events from Super Bowls to Superpower Summits, covering three presidential administrations. In 1990 she was named, Photographer of the Year by the White House News Photographers Association. As Vice President of Global Photography at AOL, Curtiss managed a staff of visual content editors and photographers based in VA, NY, Mexico and Bangalore. She has been creating an image a day since 2010. Cathaleen is a board member and the acting president of the National Press Photographer Foundation. “I love advocating for good photography and for photographers,” Curtiss said.

Elizabeth Conley is a staff photographer at the Houston Chronicle. Before moving to Houston in 2015, she worked at The Detroit News specializing in sports photography and long-term projects. In Houston, she continues her passion for visual storytelling and is humbled by those willing to share their experiences with others through her lens. Her work has been recognized by NPPA, Atlanta Journalism Seminar, Texas APME, Michigan APME, SPJ, Editor and Publisher, Gerald Loeb Awards, and Michigan Press Photographers’ Association. She’s participated in fellowships with International Women’s Media Foundation, International Journalists of Natural Resources and Kiplinger Fellowship for Public Policy at Ohio State. She has no intention of playing Wordle.