Michael Blackshire

Photo by: Shaban Athuman 

Born in Louisville, Kentucky. I am currently studying Visual Communication at Ohio University. I have an undergrad degree in Photo Journalism, Film, with a minor in African American Studies from Western Kentucky University. I am immersed in the communities that are not seen on the news. I enjoy photojournalism and many forms of video. I enjoy the landscape of Bluegrass that my forefathers built and the mountains that shape our nation. I love how photojournalism can introduce you to people that are from different perspectives, backgrounds, states, and countries than your own, but will eventually have a lasting impact on you. I love the stories of the old timers and the people who never have their voices heard. A lover of the South, the rural West, and countries that I have yet to see. 

Journalism Scholarships and Awards:

Los Angeles Press Club’s National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards 

First Place - Best Journalistic Use of Social Media to Tell or Enhance a Story for Their Video

2025 Foot in the Door Fellowship Program 

Missouri Photo Workshop:

Full Ride Workshop Scholarship Recipient 2024 

Hearst Journalism: 

2nd Place Picture Stories 2021 

1st Place Team Project Multimedia 2018

6th Place News and Features 2019

7th Place Picture Stories 2019

9th Place Picture Stories 2018 

College Photographer of the Year:

Portfolio - Runner-Up 2020

Portfolio - Third Place 2023

Bronze - Domestic Picture Story 2020

General News - Silver 2020

Award of Excellence - Features 2018

Bronze - Team Online Project 2018

Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar: 

Rich Mahan Student Portfolio 2019

First Place in Features 2019

Getty Images

Getty Inclusion Scholarship 2020 through National Association of Black Journalists

Getty Inclusion Scholarship 2021 through National Association of Black Journalists

National Press Photographers Foundation:  

James Brown/Frank Folwell Story Telling Scholarship 2025 

Bob East Scholarship 2022

C. Thomas Hardin and Mary C. Hardin Scholarship 2021

Fuji Film Scholarship 2020

Jimi Lott Scholarship 2019

Bob Lynn Grant 2020

James Alan Cox Foundation:

Student Photojournalism Scholarship 2019

Kentucky News Photographers Association Student Contest: 

First Place: General News, Spot News, Feature, News Picture Story, Feature Picture Story  2020

Judges Award 2020


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