Over 30 years of camaraderie, connection and mentorship

The Visual Task Force began as one workshop at the 1990 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Los Angeles. Keith Hadley, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, conducted a workshop on the making of the book “Songs of My People.” The room was filled with photographers. Following the workshop, emotion ran high with more than 20 people calling for an organization that would train visual journalists — photographers, graphic artists, page designers and videographers — and promote their work.

Prior to this date, the annual NABJ Convention only offered photojournalists one workshop per convention over the course of three years: 1984 in New Orleans, 1985 in Baltimore and 1986 in Dallas. It was in Dallas, when photographers rallied for more than one workshop. NABJ responded by providing three workshops for still and broadcast photojournalists. As the industry needs grew, so did the amount of educational opportunities at the annual convention.

After the 1990 convention in Los Angeles, NABJ board of directors, under the leadership of President Tom Morgan, approved the formation of the Visual Task Force (VTF).

The Kansas City convention in 1991 was the first convention with a full complement of workshops for visual journalists. It also was the first year the group sponsored a photo auction, which has become a popular convention event. The first auction raised $5,000 for the NABJ Visual Task Force scholarship fund. Each year, the NABJ Visual Task Force awards scholarships and provides programming to support the education of students pursuing a career in journalism, media and communications. One of the most successful auctions was held during the 2016 NABJ/NAHJ Convention in Washington, D.C., when over $30,000 was raised.

In 1992, during the annual convention in Detroit, the VTF held its first photo competition. Milbert O. Brown took first place honors with a report entitled “Red Jazz parlor.” This competition — formerly known as the “Shoot Out” — was renamed in 2001 to the Moneta J. Sleet Jr. Photo Competition to honor the entrepreneurial spirit and advances to the field of photojournalism sojourned by Moneta J. Sleet Jr. 

In 2011 as the economy declined, conference attendance declined as well, especially among visual journalists. Former Chair Boyzell Hosey, Tampa Bay Times Deputy Editor, Photography, started the VTF Suite talk series, “to effectively harness and bring order to rich discussions that were already casually happening in the suite for years.”

The suite maintains the relaxed and welcoming drop-in atmosphere, but now includes information sessions related to visual storytelling. VTF members also provide portfolio reviews to students and emerging photographers in the suite throughout the convention. “In the end, creating good space, no matter what form that takes, is the key for framing great dialogue,” Hosey said.  

Over the last decade, the VTF has  provided additional programming outside of the week-long convention. That includes programs at regional conferences and webinars. As more and more organizations dedicated to visual storytelling appear, the Visual Task Force continues to adapt and adjust for the time.