Atlanta native Nathan Thompson named nation's top photojournalist
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[March 26, 2012]
NASHVILLE,
Tenn. -- Judges for the Television Photography categories of the
National Press Photographers Association 2012
Best of Photojournalism contest
recently picked Atlanta, Ill, native
Nathan
Thompson of WTVF-TV in
Nashville as this year's
Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of
the Year.
(Click on photo for a larger image.)
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Thompson's winning entry included stories from a monthlong military
embed in Afghanistan, a story back home in Tennessee about the loss
of a newborn ("The Love of It"), and a story that fed into his
self-described love of "decrepit buildings and eccentric characters"
-- a project that he worked on for a year entirely on his free time
("Main Street Mansion").
In his statement to the judges, Thompson said: "Although these
stories have more of an in-depth or serious nature, they contain the
critical elements I seek to capture in every story -- strong
characters that people can relate to, accurate representations of
reality, compelling and creative narrative structure, accentuated by
attractive images and clear sound."
In addition to the top award, Thompson took first place in the
Team Entry category for "I Took Ya to the Top, Baby" -- about
Nashville's Firefighters 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb (28 floors, four
times), commemorating the brave men and women who lost their lives
10 years ago in the World Trade Center attack.
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He received honorable mentions in the News Feature category for
"The Good Ol Fashioned Mail," about an Afghanistan soldier waiting
for mail, and for In-Depth with the video "The Love of It," telling
of the short life of a couple's baby.
You may view Thompson's video entries online at:
http://bop.nppa.org/2012/tv_news_video/
news_photography/winners/index.php?cat=TPY.
Thompson was also the recipient of six Emmys at the National
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy Awards in Nashville on
March 17. It was a night to honor the best of broadcast journalism
in the Mid-South region. He made several appearances on the stage
throughout the evening, winning all six of his nominations, bringing
to 10 the number of Emmys he has earned in the last two years.
Individually, he won Emmys in the Editor/News category and
Photographer/News category.
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In the General News category, reporter Brent Frazier was honored
with Thompson for their story "The Final Fairwell," covering the
Tennessee State Fair's final run. Thompson also won awards with
reporter Heather Graf in the Spot News category for their entry "I
Lost Everything" and in the Serious Feature News Report for the
entry titled "The Love of It." Reporter Jeff Tang and
photojournalist Thompson won an Emmy for "Assignment Afghanistan" in
the Continuing Coverage category.
Thompson is a 2002 graduate of Olympia High school and a 2006
graduate of the University of Illinois. He worked with Champaign
WICD-TV Channel 15 before moving to Nashville to join WTVF Channel 5
in September 2008. His parents are Doug and LaVerne Thompson of
Atlanta. His grandparents are Robert and Kay Thompson of Atlanta and
Agnes Huber of Hillsboro.
[Text from file received]
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