Sessions with Kenny Irby

This is my second summer in SJI. One thing I missed after I left last year was sitting in on classes led by Kenny Irby, Poynter's visual journalism group leader and diversity program director. Although a block of classes with Irby may last more than three hours, the information he gives us students is always memorable. From the classic photo of Muhammad Ali knocking out Sonny Liston, to the Great Bambino’s retirement picture in Yankee Stadium--the visuals Irby presents are tremendous. Through the pictures we learned that we have to set ourselves away from the pack when covering sports. “Sometimes you have to zig when everyone zags,” Irby said. He requires us to interact with one another and it always ends with students learning new information about each other. For instance, Carron Phillips and I are both went to universities where we were at times the only African-American student in a classroom, a memory that stays with you. Our final session with Irby dealt with ethics and how important they are for us as journalists. We always have to tell the truth and be accurate in what we are reporting, though and the goal of being objective is one that Irby said is “unobtainable.”