Photojournalist JM Simpson and publisher Danny Stusser bagged the Institute for Nonprofit News’ (INN) award for The JOLT News Organization for photographs and text essays on Olympia’s homeless situation during the Nonprofit News Awards ceremony in Atlanta on September 18.
INN gave Simpson and Stusser the Insight Award for Visual Journalism.
The ceremony, held at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia, was open to all INN member news organizations and recognized “what differentiates nonprofit news— values like collaboration, innovation and impact,” according to INN’s website.
According to INN, this year’s awards had 626 entries, the most in the organization’s history.
The winners were chosen by 75 judges, including nationally recognized journalists from across the INN Network and many other news organizations.
"This is our first journalism award," Stusser said, “and I'm especially gratified that it's a national award."
The JOLT name is an acronym meaning The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater, reflecting the publication's focus on news and events in and around the cities of Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater.
A volunteer board of directors leads the organization. Its additional staff includes two local editors and eight columnists and six reporters and one editor who live in the Philippines. The JOLT also publishes work from various local contributors, such as Simpson. "We're looking for more local columnists and news analysts, too," Stusser said.
In an email by Simpson, he said his process of taking subjects of “not having a process” and letting the experience of just walking around and talking with the homeless take him where it will.
“I don’t go out to photograph looking for a specific homeless person or situation, Simpson explained, “rather, I let the homeless person or situation come to me.”
Asked why he focused on the homeless, Simpson commented that housing should be a basic right, adding, “My choice rests on the simple premise that no one should go without a home of one sort or another.”
“In photographing the homeless in black and white, I am drawing a clear line of attention to them and them alone in attempting to make that point that our society needs to do a much better job of addressing the homelessness epidemic,” Simpson commented on his choice of medium.
Simpson and JOLT reporter Jerome Tuano recently completed a video titled, "Homelessness in Olympia," which shows four dozen local individuals who live on the streets of Olympia, all taken with permission.
Despite his win, Simpson remains modest, instead returning the focus on his subjects.
About his work, Simpson said, "I work to accomplish this connection between the homeless person and the viewer because I think it makes an impact - the person looking at the photograph must look the homeless person in the eye."
“What is important is that my photography of the homeless works to make a positive difference in the lives of those who do not have a place to call home.”
Simpson's work with The JOLT can be seen here.
14 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
RondaLarsonKramer
Bravo! It’s well deserved.
Yesterday at 11:02 PM Report this
SierraHiker
Congratulations to JOLT on the award. Well earned.
Yesterday at 11:04 PM Report this
KatAshe
Congratulations on a well deserved win.
Yesterday at 11:14 PM Report this
Callie
Congratulations
Yesterday at 11:15 PM Report this
KarenM
Congratulations! Thank you JM Simpson, Danny Stusser and all of the JOLT staff and board for all that you do for local journalism.
Yesterday at 11:32 PM Report this
Grailking
Congratulations! We have to confront the problems in our community before we can effectively address them. Thanks for shining a light.
Yesterday at 11:51 PM Report this
AskyFullOfStars
Congratulations! Well done and most deserved!
Today Report this
TomBoucher
Congratulations, Danny! And "Thank you for your service, JM and Jerome!" There are so many ways to help and understand. My new friends C and J didn't have a phone. You know how important a phone is! Know how much a phone costs that can do the internet? $15. 120 minutes $29. Put those into a plastic bag and give it somebody who seems like they need one. Who? Dunno! Use your judgment.
Today Report this
TedS
Congratulations - very well deserved!
Today Report this
tommull
YAY!!! =)
10 hours ago Report this
olyhiker
You deserved it. Those stories were well-written and thought provoking.
8 hours ago Report this
Southsoundguy
Housing is a need, not a right.
8 hours ago Report this
KellyOReilly
Congratulations on receiving this award recognizing your important work! Yeah! This is me applauding!
5 hours ago Report this
jlongley
My hearty congratulations and thanks to JM Simpson, Danny Stusser, Jerome Turuano, and JOLT. This is fine journalism. We're all proud of what you produced here and for the INN award. You did Olympia proud. Carry on, now we're going to expect more fine work from y'all.
For anybody out there who hasn't contributed, please do to ensure we have JOLT here into the future.
Jim Longley
2 hours ago Report this