As we move forward with our project this year, we will be updating the blog with behind the scenes information about the people who make all of this great work possible. Our first profile is about Sue Morrow!

Sue Morrow is working with student content creators as a senior producer. Together with Dania Maxwell and Alexandra Mihale, their Dream Team is working on stories about imprisonment, finding faith after destruction of one’s home, sustainable living, the honor guard, and first generation college students, among others. Sue is the Knight Fellow at VisCom and is working toward a master’s degree in multimedia:

“I am a graduate of Indiana University School of Journalism. I am fortunate to have worked with some of the finest talent in the industry. Throughout my career I have been an advocate for visual journalism as a picture editor, designer, art director and newsroom manager. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and that multimedia is the powerful means in which to report those stories using stills, video and audio.

I have proudly worked at the San Jose Mercury News, the St. Petersburg Times, the Sacramento Bee, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Boston Globe. During my leadership at the Times, the photo team was recognized with numerous awards for photography and editing in POYi, BOP and SND, including winning Picture Editing Team Portfolio in POYi.

At the Sacramento Bee, I was the editor and designer for “ A Mother’s Journey,” which won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in feature photography and POYi’s World Understanding Award.

I have been a judge for POYi, BOP and SND. I have taught and lectured at the Poynter Institute of Media Studies, the Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar and many NPPA related seminars and contests. I am an advisory board member of The Kalish picture editing workshop.”

Our content creators are traveling the state to work on fascinating stories while the deadline for projects quickly approaches. As the photographs, videos, design, graphics, and web content start to come together, it’s amazing to see the diversity of subjects. From home schooling, to the experiences of international students, to families living off the grid, to tigers living in a garage (no lions or bears, yet though!) to the daily struggles and triumphs of people throughout the region, the stories show that everyone really does have their own different, unique dream. And there is so much more to come! We’ll be adding photos and behind-the-scenes info in the coming weeks so be sure to check back!

And…what was the award for coming up with the title for our project this year? A red slurpee of course!

Dania Maxwell happily accepts her sweet reward.

These stories will examine our changing American Dream — what it was, what it has become, and the myths and realities of it’s unending pursuit.

By telling them from here in southeast Ohio, we aim to help folks better understand our country, our communities, our neighbors, and ourselves.