President's Message

As President, let me welcome you to the website of the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles. The organization was founded in 1936 in an effort to give photographers of the working press the unity and respect they deserved. The PPAGLA has a rich heritage of glitz and glamour, war, humor and tragedy with our ranks over the years including 10 pulitzer Prize winners.

Unfortunately, many of the same misconceptions about press photographers still linger 68 years later. Working photojournalists of legitimate electronic and print news media are considered "Paparazzi" or are lumped in with so called "Tabloid Journalism", but we of the working news media must comply with a code of ethics, and our obligation is to report the news or event that is unfolding before us in a truthful manner.

The PPAGLA is guided by an all volunteer board of directors that meets monthly to discuss the organization's business. We produce the "JUST ONE MORE" annual, which compiles the best photographs of the membership for the year. We also publish our newsletter the "JUST ONE MORE, Jr." six times a year, which includes our monthly contest results, news from and of our members, and updates of events and changes in our industry.

Our more than 400 members include working press, celebrity photographers, associate, student, and honorary members who work in and around the field of print and electronic journalism and the entertainment field.

As you can see from the contest winners posted on this site, our members include some the finest photographers working in Los Angeles and around the world. The organization continues to grow, as we obtain the brightest of the next generation of photojournalists through our annual scholarship awards presented to the students who will fill our ranks tomorrow.

Posted on the web site is our code of ethics and our media guide which outlines the parameters of the media's rights and responsibilities when dealing with police and fire as we do our jobs on the street.

Photojournalism is an exciting and challenging career that is suited to a rare few. Our obligation is to tell the truth with this powerful thing - "the camera". Our photographic tools have changed and evolved greatly over the past 150 years, but our task remains the same; to see, record and truthfully tell the story that we have witnessed.

It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of so many talented photographers who have held this office before me, and I hope to be a positive part of the organization's future.

President, The Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles