CT Journalism Hall of Fame: John Long

John Long was a staff photographer for the Hartford Courant for 35 years. He covered everything from political conventions, to golf, to the plight of the homeless and all the local events that defined the Hartford area during the time. He won many awards and was twice named the Connecticut Photographer of the Year. He was awarded the Joseph Sprague Award in 2007, the highest award given by the National Press Photographers Association.

“Photojournalism is a craft and I consider myself to be a journeyman craftsman.” Long said. “Accurate photographs help the members of the public understand the world in which we live, especially on an emotional level.”

Long has been deeply involved in protecting access for Connecticut journalists to news scenes. He was a member of the first and second Connecticut Cameras in the Courts committees that created the rules and monitored the results as Connecticut approved the use of TV and still cameras during court proceedings. He was a founding member of the Media Access Task Force, a group that sought to improve relations with law enforcement in Connecticut. He also served on the media / law committee of the Connecticut Bar Association.

Long’s work has extended beyond Connecticut’s borders. Since 1998, he has been the ethics chairman for the National Press Photographers Association, and he served as its president in 1989-90. He headed the committee that rewrote the NPPA Code of Ethics in the early 2000s.

After retiring from the Courant in 2006, he served as an adjunct professor at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Previously, he taught part time at Manchester Community College in Manchester for five years. Long lives in Manchester with his wife, Mary. They have three grown daughters.

Long was inducted into the Connecticut Journalism Hall of Fame in 2013.