The RMA Presents “How Did He Get the Shot? The Photography of New York Times Breaking News Journalist Neil Vigdor”
Neil Vigdor, a New York Times breaking news and political reporter, described how his parallel career as an expert photographer allows him to capture everything from fireflies and fireworks to historic political moments with meticulous planning and technical precision. He reflected on the challenges facing contemporary photojournalism and regional newspapers, noting how artificial intelligence has eroded public trust in images and how hedge-fund ownership has hollowed out legacy outlets like the Hartford Courant. Despite the high-pressure nature of national politics, he emphasized his continuing search for quiet, visual truths—from snowy owls in Stratford to Gothic architecture in Bruges—that reveal aspects of reality words alone cannot convey.