Laramie Reporter’s Ashton Hacke to present major photojournalism project
As 2023’s Larsh Bristol fellow, Hacke photographed Wyoming’s print newsrooms, rendering an unprecedented era in American journalism in classic black and white. His work is on display in Coe Library.
The Laramie Reporter’s Ashton Hacke spent the summer traveling the state, documenting Wyoming’s print newsrooms at a unique time in their history.
Nationally, the United States loses more than two newspapers a week. In Wyoming, declining ad sales, corporate buyouts and the rise of digital alternatives have forever changed the state’s print publications.
But Hacke found dedicated journalists across the state, making due in dire times.
“While working in Wyoming newsrooms, I noticed a group of people who dedicated their lives and went above and beyond for their work,” Hacke told UW. “I thought it would be important to go into the field and tell a story about the people in the newsroom and how print media is holding up in the state.”
Hacke’s project was powered by the Larsh Bristol Photojournalism Fellowship, an annual award that funds “strong visual storytelling projects” and goes to one or two aspiring photojournalists each year. It is the most prestigious award offered through the UW Department of Communication and Journalism.
The fellowship takes its name and inspiration from the award-winning photographer Larsh Bristol, who graduated from the UW journalism program in 1974 and died in 2006.
Hacke is the second Laramie Reporter contributor to receive the Larsh Bristol, following Vanta Coda’s fellowship in 2022. The award’s first recipient, Joe Riis, went on to shoot for National Geographic.
Hacke will present on his summer travels and the resulting project at 5 p.m. today in Coe Library Room 506, giving a tour of his work immediately after. Hacke’s project will be on display in the library’s third-floor gallery through the end of March.
The presentation is free and open to the public.