Nearly a half-century ago, Navy-trained World War II combat photographer Charles “Chuck” Scott helped launch a photo school at a state university in the Appalachian foothills in small-town Athens, Ohio (2024 population 24,956).

His mission — in addition to training photographers — was “to teach the importance of photos to word people.” For 19 years, blunt-spoken Scott was director of Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication, which launched a stream of future Pulitzer Prize winners. Scott’s death in 2015 prompted an outpouring of Chuck-Scott-was-my-mentor tributes nationwide.

“He inspired thousands of young photojournalists including me,” posted Amy Sancetta, who won a 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography along with The Associated Press team that covered the 1992 presidential election. “He was a champion, and yet when I began, he championed me.”

Scott was born 100 years ago this August; Ohio University plans a back-to-school tribute showcasing his award-winning work, equipment, and achievements.

“The legacy has grown,” said Terry Eiler, professor emeritus at Ohio University who co-founded its visual-communications program with Scott, his father-in-law.

“The ability to share knowledge and develop talent is a powerful gift,” said Eiler. “Just as impressive is starting something that keeps going after you’re gone.”

Forty-six visual journalists from Ohio University have won Pulitzer Prizes, says Tim Goheen, director of Ohio U’s School of Visual Communication.

Marcus Yam of the Los Angeles Times won a 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for “raw and urgent images of the U.S. departure from Afghanistan.” Born in Malaysia in 1984, Yam earned a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Buffalo in 2006. When he switched to photography, Yam enrolled in a “boot camp” program at Ohio University.

Hands-on Experience

As an uber-teacher and mentor, Scott was an evangelist for experience.

Yam recalls a year of hands-on transformative photo work at Ohio University that gave him “permission to embrace the unknown.” As a student, he immersed himself in the unincorporated hamlet of Shade, Ohio to compile a photo essay.

“That experience in Shade set the foundation for my career,” Yam said. “I had a sense of being unleashed. It gave me the confidence to go anywhere.”

Getty Images also won a 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for coverage of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Drew Angerer, who graduated from Ohio University in 2011, was on the Pulitzer-winning team at Getty. Recalling his education, Angerer was impressed by the Washington, DC experience of his Ohio U instructors: Pulitzer Prize winner Marcy Nighswander, Jenn Poggi, and Pete Souza.

Leading media outlets rely on award-winning freelance photographers trained at Ohio University to cover Midwest breaking news, politics, culture and sports for a global audience (including Columbus-based Maddie McGarvey, Cincinnati-based Madeleine Hordinski, Cleveland-based Dustin Franz, and Des Moines-based Rachel Mummey).

Sports Makes the Case

Photography of elite sports showcases the enduring reach of the house that Chuck Scott built:

Getty Images plans to send Boston-based Maddie Meyer and New York-based Sarah Stier to cover aquatics at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Both graduated from Ohio University.

The Washington Post sports section (print edition) on June 17 published photos by two Ohio U alums: Frank Franklin II of The Associated Press at the U.S. Open and Emilee Chinn for Getty Images at a WNBA game in Indianapolis.

The wide-ranging photo portfolio of Ohio U alumna Alie Skowronski of The Miami Herald includes pro sports. Skowronski was the 2021 Hearst Photojournalism Champion.

In Louisville, award-winning Ohio U alumnus Dan Dry has photographed the Kentucky Derby 46 times.

“Chuck Scott,” said Dry, “made such an impact on my life.”

Respect Photo Rights

Shortly after he graduated from Ohio University last year, photographer Ryan Grzybowski was contacted by a producer in Los Angeles who was making a film about the first Ukrainian athlete signed by WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).

The producer wanted to use photos of Olena Sadovska taken by Grzybowski in 2021 at a high school swim meet in Ohio. His photos were included in the film that aired this year on Roku.

Yes, Grzybowski was compensated for the use.

“That’s definitely a life lesson from Chuck Scott,” said Eiler. “Respect photo rights!”

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About the author: Ken Klein lives in Silver Spring, Maryland; he is retired after a career in politics, lobbying, and media including The Associated Press and Gannett in Florida. Klein is an alumnus of Ohio University and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council of the Scripps College of Communication. Professionally, he has worked for Fort Myers News-Press (Gannett), The Associated Press (Tallahassee), Senator Bob Graham, and the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA).