Stephan Savoia

Last updated
Stephan Savoia on assignment aboard the research vessel M/V OCEARCH tagging Great White Sharks off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Stephan Savoia On Assignment.webp
Stephan Savoia on assignment aboard the research vessel M/V OCEARCH tagging Great White Sharks off Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Stephan Savoia is an American photojournalist who has worked for several daily newspapers and the Associated Press during his 42-year career. He has been recognized twice by the Pulitzer Prize Board as a member of two winning Associated Press Feature Photography teams. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Savoia was born in New York City and raised in its metropolitan area. [3] He earned a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Potsdam, where he majored in sociology and social theory and minored in art and photography. [4] He later completed a master's degree in journalism at the University of Missouri, where he studied under photojournalist Angus McDougall. [3] In 2005, Savoia was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts by SUNY Potsdam in recognition of his contributions to visual journalism. [4]

Career

Savoia began his photography career while working on The Racquette, the student newspaper at SUNY Potsdam. [4] After completing his master's degree at the University of Missouri, he worked as a staff photojournalist for newspapers in Monroe and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. [3] In November 1990, he joined the Associated Press. From 1990 to 2005, he served as a national staff photographer based in Boston, and continued with the AP as a staff photographer until his retirement in 2018.

The 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography recognized the AP "portfolio of images drawn from the 1992 presidential campaign". [1] Savoia was the lead campaign photojournalist covering Bill Clinton’s presidential bid. The 1999 Prize recognized a collection of images from the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal and ensuing impeachment hearings. Savoia photographed key figures, including Clinton’s personal secretary Betty Currie and her attorney Lawrence Wechsler. [1] [2]

Notable coverage

Savoia's major assignments with the Associated Press included:

Publications and exhibitions

Savoia’s work has appeared in:

Teaching and professional involvement

Savoia has lectured and presented on photojournalism at various universities and professional workshops. He served as a judge for the Pictures of the Year International (POYi), [3] the National Press Photographers Association’s Best of Photojournalism competition, [29] and the Boston Press Photographers Association’s college contests. [30] He also served as President of the Boston Press Photographers Association from 2016 to 2020. [31]

In 2025, Savoia became the president of the f4 & See It Foundation, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting impactful photojournalism and documentary photography. [32] The organization promotes the thoughtful and purposeful telling of visual stories, drawing on Savoia’s own philosophy of photojournalism. The foundation’s name, coined by Savoia, is a play on the phrase "f/8 and be there", reimagined as "f4 and See It" to reflect a more deliberate and emotionally aware approach to visual storytelling.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Feature Photography: 1993 Pulitzer Prize". Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  2. 1 2 "Feature Photography: 1999 Pulitzer Prize". Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "62nd Pictures of the Year: Judges". Pictures of the Year International. University of Missouri. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Alumni Spotlight: Stephan Savoia". SUNY Potsdam. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  5. "Bill Clinton campaigns in 1992". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  6. "Bob Dole greets supporters in 1996 campaign". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  7. "Steve Forbes at a campaign stop". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  8. "John McCain during 2000 campaign". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  9. "John McCain on the 2008 campaign trail". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  10. "Al Gore on the campaign trail in 2000". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  11. "Japan's synchronized swimming duo at the 1992 Olympics". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  12. "Recovery work following the Swissair Flight 111 crash". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  13. "Family members gather at EgyptAir memorial". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  14. "Search efforts for John F. Kennedy Jr.'s downed plane". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  15. "Protesters confront police at Seattle WTO meeting". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  16. "Demonstrators and security clash at Quebec Summit of the Americas". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  17. "World leaders at G7 summit". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  18. "APEC leaders gather for summit". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  19. "Sen. John McCain speaks during campaign finance reform debate". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  20. "New England Patriots' Tom Brady reacts during Super Bowl". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  21. "North Carolina forward Rasheed Wallace dunks during NCAA tournament". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  22. "Boston Red Sox celebrate World Series victory". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  23. Barry Petchesky. "How Crying Jordan Became A Thing". Deadspin.com. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  24. "Stephan Savoia". The Image Museum (Archived). Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  25. The Pulitzer Prize Photographs. Newseum. 2000.
  26. Breaking News. Princeton Architectural Press. 2007.
  27. Flash! The Associated Press Covers the World. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 1998.
  28. Glasgow: Story of a Missouri Rivertown. University of Missouri School of Journalism. 1983.
  29. "Best of Photojournalism Judges". NPPA. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  30. "2018 College Contest Judges". Boston Press Photographers Association. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  31. "BPPA Elections 2021". Boston Press Photographers Association. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  32. "About the Foundation". F4 & See It Foundation. Retrieved 2025-06-23.